Goosanders are really common in GM nowadays and breeding well on the Irwell and occasionally on the Goyt. However, they are normally on rivers or lakes and the peat pools wouldn't attract them? I wonder if this bird was taken by one of the semi-resident Peregrines, or by the Saker hybrid which has been around there for a couple of years now intermittently.
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Judith Smith
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Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
8 LR Plovers 7 Redshank 30+ Lapwings 5 Teal 4 Snipe 6 BH Gulls 1 Wheatear 2 Swallows 4 Skylarks 3 Kestrels 4 Buzzards Plenty of Yellowhammers + M Pipits While having a walkabout on the edge of the peat moss and Botany bay woods I came across the badly decomposed body of what looked like a female Goosander , have they ever been seen in this area. Also saw male Sparrowhawk hunting over Bedford moss
