I was reading the recent reports relating to three Goosanders at Leazes Park in Newcastle and it reminded me of my own sightings in Northumberland. I am lucky enough to see them quite often at either Bolam Lake, on the River in Morpeth (where there has been a very tame drake this winter) and also in the spring here on the Hart Burn near Bolam Lake.
Goosander mothers can communicate with the ducklings and can tell them either not to move a feather, or, when necessary to get well out of there. Once I watched a dozen ducklings, totally motionless, drifting round and round in an eddy in shadow of an overhanging tree, with their pale flecks blending in perfectly with natural foam bubbles on the water’s surface. The mother had seen me but hoped I hadn’t seen the family! A few days later when I saw them next she knew I had seen them and using grunts she told the youngsters to leg it. The speed they scuttled off upstream was incredible.
Several times I have seen Goosanders fishing. In Calgary, Canada, we once watched a flock of a dozen fishing together. We were on a bridge over the river above them and their co-ordination was remarkable. Every now and again one bird would be lucky. I also saw this on the river Coquet in Warkworth, but there were only four or five birds. I have only once watched our pair fishing together here in Hartburn, but when I did, what was memorable was a Heron which was keeping station just upstream of them. Each time they disturbed a trout, the Heron tried to get it. I don’t think it was successful, but it was quite enterprising and entertaining.
Incidentally, there are often two or three dabchicks (Little Grebe) on the Wansbeck in Morpeth near the Oldgate Bridge. A few weeks ago I could see by the ripples one was just alongside the bank, so I approached slowly and looked over the wall. It was within touching distance. When it saw me it dived but I had a great view of it swimming off underwater.
Other birds of interest I have recorded recently involved a flock of 30 Waxwings in the village a few weeks ago, and I had a nice view of a Kingfisher on the Hart.
Richard Cansdale