Red breasted merganser (I think)

[Graham]

Either that or a Goosander.

We saw this lovely little bird eating bread with swans and mallards on our recent trip to Edinburgh.

[glenw]

Great photo! I'm with you, I think merganser too. The red head on a goosander usually has a clearly defined line where it meets the grey neck and also that 'punk' hairdo is more merganser too. Well, thats what I was told how to seperate them anyway!!!!

[Graham]

Originally Posted by glenw

Great photo! I'm with you, I think merganser too. The red head on a goosander usually has a clearly defined line where it meets the grey neck and also that 'punk' hairdo is more merganser too. Well, thats what I was told how to seperate them anyway!!!!

Yes "know it all" son mention the punk hairdo and looking in the books it looks more like a Merganser. We were surprised to see it feeding with ducks but it was very cold so was probably hungry.

[jayjay]

It's a lovely bird! Is it a winter visitor to our shores or live here all year round? I have seen one before (remembered the punk hair-do!) and it looked very exotic for a UK bird.... mind you having said that, I love Jays and they are from here and look very exotic!

[Graham]

Originally Posted by jayjay

It's a lovely bird! Is it a winter visitor to our shores or live here all year round?

I wasn't sure about this so I looked it up, here is a quote from the World of Birds website.

Red-breasted mergansers are resident all year in the UK although their winter and summer ranges are very different. In Summer they breed on rivers and some lakes in Scotland and the North West of England and North Wales. In winter they can be found at sea, around the coast, or on lakes close to the sea. In autumn and winter they can form quite large flocks.

[glenw]

Originally Posted by jayjay

it looked very exotic for a UK bird.... mind you having said that, I love Jays and they are from here and look very exotic!

Jays are great birds! If you look closely at a lot of out UK birds, they are a lot more exotic than we give them credit for! Look at the kingfisher for example, absolutely stunning bird. But even the 'drab' starling looks stunning in its full plumage, oily black with multicoloured speckles and the magpie is oily black too, giving an irridescent sheen when the light catches them!!

[Graham]

Originally Posted by glenw

Jays are great birds! If you look closely at a lot of out UK birds, they are a lot more exotic than we give them credit for! Look at the kingfisher for example, absolutely stunning bird. But even the 'drab' starling looks stunning in its full plumage, oily black with multicoloured speckles and the magpie is oily black too, giving an irridescent sheen when the light catches them!!

Totally agree Glen, there are so many starlings that they aren't noticed by a lot of people but if they were rarer and you saw one you would think "Wow what a beautiful bird".

Of course magpies hold a special affection for me being the nickname of my favourite football team.

[Yamaha]

"Either that or a Goosander."

It's a bleedin' racing pidgeon !!

Mike

[glenw]

Originally Posted by Yamaha

It's a bleedin' racing pidgeon !!

Mike

AHH.. hence the hair do, its streamlining!!!.

[jayjay]

Well I know this isn't a wild bird, but it is an english breed and isn't it beautiful?

[KnowItAllSon]

Originally Posted by Graham

Yes "know it all" son mention the punk hairdo and looking in the books it looks more like a Merganser. We were surprised to see it feeding with ducks but it was very cold so was probably hungry.

As the aforementioned "know it all" son I thought I'd drop in and say Hello. Its a RH Merganser and looking very good too. Lovely photo.

I've never had such good views of one and was surprised to hear it was taking bread, down here in Notts its usually Goosander which give the better views and I've seen them taking bread.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by KnowItAllSon

As the aforementioned "know it all" son I thought I'd drop in and say Hello.

Ay up yoof!! Have you bought a small motorhome and not told us?

Nice to see you on here, just behave yourself otherwise you can go and tidy your room.

Ahh those were the days.

[Pauline]

Originally Posted by Graham

Ay up yoof!! Have you bought a small motorhome and not told us?

Nice to see you on here, just behave yourself otherwise you can go and tidy your room.

Ahh those were the days.

You two sparring again?

[KnowItAllSon]

Originally Posted by Graham

Ay up yoof!! Have you bought a small motorhome and not told us?

Nice to see you on here, just behave yourself otherwise you can go and tidy your room.

Ahh those were the days.

Well I think I should have a right of reply when I'm being talked about

I've been promised a weekends holiday in a small motorhome this summer by my parents - does that count?

[Graham]

Originally Posted by KnowItAllSon

Well I think I should have a right of reply when I'm being talked about

I've been promised a weekends holiday in a small motorhome this summer by my parents - does that count?

OK, you're in . Mind you we have any Tom Dick or Harry here, ask Yamaha.