As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees

Goosander is the largest member of the mergansers or 'sawbills' that occur in Britain. Its name seems to be a hybrid from the Scandinavian 'gos' meaning 'goose' and the Old Norse word 'ond' referring to the drake. The scientific name 'mergus' meaning diver is from the word 'mergere' meaning 'to plunge'. Some historical names for Goosander include; Sawneb, Jacksaw, Dun Diver, Harle and Rantock.

There have been around ninety Goosander reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;

1891: (1)

One was ‘obtained’ sometime in January at Bitton.

1978: (1)

A male was identified off Severn Beach on December 24th.

1980: (11)

Eleven 'redheads' were seen flying south-east off Severn Beach on November 23rd.

1981: (1)

A female was seen flying up river off New Passage on May 9th.

1984: (1)

A 'redhead' was seen on April 20th on Severnside.

1985: (1)

One was noted at New Passage on February 15th.

1987: (1)

One was seen on January 24th at Northwick Warth.

1988: (2)

Two birds were seen at Northwick Warth on December 18th.

1989: (8)

Two, a male and female were seen on February 25th at New Passage; Another male and female were found on October 28th at New Passage; Four on November 17th were seen at New Passage and were watched in flight upstream; On November 19th one was found at New Passage.

1990: (1)

On November 17th on Severnside, a ‘redhead’ was found and was subsequently seen again on November 25th.

1991: (13)

On February 3rd at Littleton Warth, a ‘redhead’ was observed in flight heading north; Three on February 10th were noted on Severnside, the group included two males and were seen in flight heading north; There were three on February 17th at Oldbury Power Station, including one male; A 'redhead' on Severnside was watched on April 13th; Five 'redheads' were seen on Severnside on October 11th were also seen on October 17th and 19th.

1992: (6)

Six were found on February 8th on the R. Avon at Hanham, five were still present on February 15th with one on February 29th.

1994: (1)

A male was present on March 6th on the R. Avon at Hanham.

1996: (5)

Two, a male and female were seen on November 17th at New Passage, in flight heading north-east; Three were seen on December 28th at Severn Beach, the group included one male and were watched in flight heading north-east.

1997: (9)

Seven were identified in flight up channel on January 4th at Oldbury Power Station; A single male noted on January 4th was at Severn Beach; A female was seen in flight heading south-west on January 12th at Severn Beach.

1998: (2)

Two on February 4th were found on the R. Avon at Hanham.

1999: (3)

Two, a male and female were observed on January 31st on the R. Avon at Hanham; A female visited Siston Brook at Willsbridge on January 31st.

2000: (4)

On January 10th one was seen on Severnside, in flight heading south; Two, also on Severnside were seen on November 4th; One on December 30th on Severnside was watched in flight heading south-west.

2001: (2)

On November 11th on Severnside, two birds, both ‘redheads' were seen in flight heading north.

2002: (1)

A 'redhead' was seen on January 2nd on Severnside.

2003: (5)

On February 16th one was found at Leap Valley in Downend; Three on October 14th were on Severnside; One on November 15th was at Oldbury Power Station; Two were noted on November 23rd on Severnside and were present until December 31st.

2004: (4)

There were three at Frampton Court Lake on January 7th; One was on Severnside on February 20th.

2005: (2)

One was noted at Badminton on December 13th; A male was seen at New Passage on December 30th.

2006: (5)

A female was seen at New Passage on January 6th; A drake flew past Severn Beach on February 18th; Two flew down river past New Passage on April 22nd; On November 10th a female was found amongst Wigeon and Teal at New Passage before it flew off down the estuary.