Sawbills

[nirofo]

We seem to be doing quite well in Thurso for Sawbills just recently, there was a female Red-breasted Merganser and a female Goosander at Thurso river mouth this afternoon. Not close enough for photo's unfortunately.

nirofo.

[Kenn]

Goosander at Ackergill and Staxigoe today between 1 and 2pm also Merganser at Staxigoe all very close to the shoreline, obviously keeping well sheltered!

[kas]

9 Goosanders in total today, 5 female and 4 male. 6 were at the rivermouth and 3 off the beach.

[Skifter]

There were two Goosanders on Wick River this morning.

[Skifter]

There were two Goosanders on Wick River this morning.

[nirofo]

Sawbills everywhere just now, here's a male Gooander dodging the iceflows at Thurso Harbour and male and female Mergansers sporting the latest hairstyles at Harrow.

Goosander male.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/nirofo/Birds/Goosandermale2.jpg

Red-breasted Merganser male.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/nirofo/Birds/Red-breastedMergansermale2.jpg

Red-breasted Merganser female.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/nirofo/Birds/Red-breastedMerganserfemale.jpg

nirofo.

[Skifter]

Nice photos. There were six mergansers at Castlehill this morning. Three of them were really close, just as i was taking the cap of my camera they got spooked and took off out into the bay.

[nirofo]

8 Goosanders at Thurso harbour today, 5 males and 3 females.

nirofo.

[Kenn]

Managed to get some very poor photos a few weeks back of the mergansers on Thurso river, there were a number in amongst the widgeon flock, also saw a couple at Castlehill and Harrow Harbour so delighted to see some proper photos nirofo.
Can any one confirm that the name comes from the fact that they have serrated edges to their bills to facilitate catching fish?

[nirofo]

Managed to get some very poor photos a few weeks back of the mergansers on Thurso river, there were a number in amongst the widgeon flock, also saw a couple at Castlehill and Harrow Harbour so delighted to see some proper photos nirofo.
Can any one confirm that the name comes from the fact that they have serrated edges to their bills to facilitate catching fish?

Hi LIZZ

We seem to be doing very well for Sawbills this year, I've been lucky in a couple of places to be close enough to get a few photo's. Yes they do have serrated edges to their bills.

nirofo.

[kas]

We had 4 Red-breasted Megansers below our house today, 3 females and a male. We had great detailed views of them through the scope.

10 Goosanders were seen at Thurso river mouth on Sunday with another 8 seen on Loch Scramsclate the same day.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f170/kasm/170209010.jpg

[nirofo]

Hi Kas

I can't remember ever seeing so many Sawbills in such a short time in Caithness, they're being reported from all over the county just now.

nirofo.

[kas]

Yes others are saying this too, a record year.

I forgot to mention that your photos are great.;)

[kas]

A pair of Goosander were below our house this morning, I think this is a first, only had the Red-breasted Megansers before. I didnt see any at the river mouth today.