Goldeneye (Common Goldeneye)
Bucephala clangula
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Distribution Britain 173 (811%) Ireland 13
Numbers breeding: Britain 200 Ireland 0 European status: 250,000 (0% in Britain and Ireland) British population trend: new and with excellent prospects How likely are you to record it? 5 squares (0.1%) Ranked 162= |
Early Scottish breeding records of this hole-nesting species have all been dismissed but two injured birds nested in Cheshire in 1931 and 1932. Breeding, in specially erected nest boxes in Speyside, started in 1970 and has taken off. They now breed at several sites along the Spey and in adjacent areas where there are boxes. In Lancashire released birds are now trying to breed. The lack of nest sites, because we do not have the big Black Woodpeckers whose holes are large enough, is widely thought to have excluded them. Prospects excellent — put up more boxes!
The following Bird On! sketch is available:
Goldeneye
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead