GOOSANDER

The highest single site count of this species in the county was of 205 birds at Elton Reservoir on the 5th February 1997.

The first county breeding record was in 2003 when pair bred on the River Irwell.

In 1994, a male landed on a 14 x 10 foot garden pond in Hazel Grove and proceeded to eat the inhabitants, Koi Carp! The bird was caught by the owner of the pond and released elsewhere.