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New Birdwatching Diary for 2025!

Writer's picture: Kate PKate P


Female Goosander, Shaking of wings
Female Goosander, Shaking of wings

I've decided to try and blog about my birdwatching adventures this year, as that's normally what I photograph.  Proper birdwatching is a relatively new hobby for me, but it’s been such an exciting, addictive, and rewarding experience so far. As I learn and grow in this passion, I wanted to start this diary to document all my bird encounters—whether they’re in the feathered flesh or inspired by my reading and research.


Birds are fascinating creatures, each with their own "superpower." Eagles have incredible sight, cormorants have their flexible gullet,(reminder: to share my Cormorant eating huge pike photo with you!) and kingfishers’ dart-like beaks optimize their dives for precision and efficiency. And, of course, there's the ultimate superpower: the ability to fly! I hope this diary becomes a collection of my favourite birding moments and a space where I can reflect on what I’ve observed and learned in the field. If you’re reading this, feel free to join me on this journey and share your own birding stories!


Diary Entry #1: All About the Goosander


Yesterday, I visited a bird hide in Milton Keynes, where some very friendly ladies pointed out a Goosander in the wetlands. I was thrilled because I’m working on a lifer bird photo album, and I hadn’t captured a Goosander yet! I spotted a dark-headed bird swimming away and quickly snapped a blurry photo. It wasn’t the best, but it was evidence!


Unfortunately, the male (who has the dark green head) didn’t come back, but a beautiful female Goosander did—and she even gave me a little wing stretch! Probably just shaking off water from a dive, but I like to think she was showing off a bit for my camera.

Here’s a fun fact: When I first saw the bird, I accidentally called it a “Merganser.” I wondered where that came from, and it turns out the Goosander is actually a type of merganser! Its scientific name, Mergus merganser, comes from the Latin “mergus” (unspecified waterbird) and “anser” (goose). 


What I Learned About Goosanders:


  1. Naming: The Goosander is also called the Common Merganser. The name "Goosander" is more common in the UK, while "Common Merganser" is used in North America.

  2. Identifying Features: It’s easy to confuse Goosanders with Red-breasted Mergansers (RBM). The key difference? Goosanders have a clear divide between their chestnut-brown head and their white breast, while RBMs have blended colours from their heads to their breasts.

  3. Habitat: In Milton Keynes, I’m more likely to see a Goosander because they prefer freshwater rivers and lakes. RBMs tend to stay in coastal areas because they prefer slightly smaller fish so schools of fish are better for them.  

  4. Diving Ability: Goosanders are fantastic divers and can stay underwater for up to 30 seconds. They use their strong webbed feet to propel themselves, not their wings.

  5. Nesting: Unlike Great Crested Grebes (which build floating nests), Goosanders nest in trees! I wonder how the ducklings manage to leave the nest—definitely something to look up on YouTube. Little differences between similar water birds fascinate me as I start to think about their evolutionary divergence, and genetic adaptations. This is an area I definitely want to learn more about on my birding journey!


Final Thoughts:

Yesterday was the first time I really looked at a Goosander. I found myself wondering about its story. Had it just migrated down from northern parts of the UK to find a warmer winter spot? Or had it crossed the North Sea from Europe? The female’s chestnut head, complete with that windswept, spiky crest, is so cute.


These birds are incredible fish hunters, much like cormorants, and not always loved by anglers. In fact, some people want them added to hunting licenses, which would be sad for such a beautiful species.


Goosanders are part of the broader merganser family, which includes six species:

  • Common Merganser (Goosander) ✅

  • Red-breasted Merganser

  • Hooded Merganser (a stunning bird mainly found in the US and Canada)

  • Smew

  • Brazilian Merganser (critically endangered)

  • Scaly-sided Merganser (endangered, found in Russia and China)


The Common Merganser gets a tick! and I hope I will be able to photograph all 6 in the not too distant future.


Birdwatching has truly opened my eyes to the beauty and diversity of these incredible creatures. I can’t wait for more encounters to add to this diary. Have you seen a Goosander before? What’s your favourite diving bird? Let me know in the comments.


Happy Birding

Kate



Female Goosander, off to do more fishing
Female Goosander, off to do more fishing


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