This pair of goosanders was resting and preeening on a rock on the River Wharfe about a mile upstream of Grassington.
The male is on the left.
The female has a downward pointing crest, which can be seen even more clearly on the next picture.
The male has a magnificent green-black head, and both male and female birds have a red bill, which is serrated and has a hooked end for catching and grasping fish.
In common with many other birds, it raises its head to swallow when drinking.
After some time, the female joined the male in the river, and the two birds swam steadily upstream.
We saw this lone female goosander on the River Trent just below Gunthorpe Lock in April 2011.