An Unexpected Goosander and a Handsome Mandarin - Memorial Park, Herne Bay 22/02/20

As I came through the park today I got a very welcome surprise. I was idly looking towards the lake to have a quick scan through the duck when I caught sight of a bird asleep on the water that appeared to be a sawbill and I was really chuffed, as it raised its head to check out a gull that had come too close, to see that it was a female Goosander. What a beauty. She promptly tucked her bill in and went back to sleep.

female Goosander

female Goosander

I sat on one of the benches, in the hopes she might wake up, and a little while later the gulls on the water suddenly flew up in alarm as a dog jumped into the water on the other side of the lake causing her to be instantly alert. I couldn't believe my luck when she started to swim my way and settled near the island and I was treated to the best views of Goosander I have ever had.

female Goosander

female Goosander

Peace was broken when a male Mallard came too close and instantly her head crest came up and with bill gaping laying her body flat against the water she saw him off.

She tucked herself in by some rocks and started to preen but if another bird came too close she immediately became alert and her crest started to raise. As they moved off her crest would start to lower.

I wondered how long she had been on the lake for and while chatting to another couple of bird watchers, who were passing by, they said that she was on the lake at first light and there had not been any sign of her yesterday. After another commotion amongst the gulls her posture became more alert before she moved out from amongst the rocks.

Luckily for me she did not seem too fazed by the large number of people passing by and though, initially, she moved further out onto the lake it wasn't long before she moved back in again and once again gave some super views.

The male Mallard came back and decided to try his luck again and coming in close started to drive her back towards the bank. Once again she reacted and the crest came up and with bill gaping she charged at him and causing him to beat a very hasty retreat.

With the arrival of a large family party coming to feed the ducks the Goosander moved round to the other side of the island and started to dive frequently to look for prey. I moved round to another handy bench and though she was a little further away now I was still lucky enough to have some great views as she hunted. Her head feathers became slicked right down after several dives resulting in a vigorous head swing to shake the water off.

When diving she would rear forward, sometimes with a leap, sometimes not. I tried to capture it on the camera but often she was too fast for me. She would travel a little way under water before coming up again.

After a while she moved back round to the main part of the lake and a sudden gust of wind gave her a decidedly bad hair day before all settled back into place again.

I had thought that I had seen signs of a dark line in the white on her closed wing and when she obligingly flapped her wings it was clear that there was indeed a dark band. I would have expected that on a Merganser but not on a Goosander. Having looked it up it seems that there can be an indistinct line on on some or all of the outer greater coverts. Here it appears to be all of them. It is something that I will have to find out more about.

While watching the Goosander I was also treated to some great views of the long-staying male Mandarin Duck. He really is an extremely handsome bird and it was great to get some of the best views I have had of it.

It had been an unexpected and greatly enjoyable experience and hopefully, after resting up after the high winds, the Goosander will be able to carry on her way.