A male Goosander at Castletown River, Dundalk

Well didn't we end up having the company of a first year male goosander at Castletown River, Dundalk for most of the day! Goosanders are one of the rarest species of breeding ducks in Ireland and Wicklow has the only known breeding population in all of Ireland (about 2 dozen approx.). So we never thought we'd ever get to see one never mind photograph one. We even had a group conversation last week with a fellow birder digressing about the lack of goosanders over here compared to his patch in Yorkshire. 

They are very shy birds so it wasn't so easy to get a good shot. Nevertheless pretty chuffed to find a rarity. This one is most likely from continental Europe and has ventured a bit too far NW for winter, though they can be found in Northern Ireland too over the winter months.

A male Goosander at the docks along Castletown River, Dundalk