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Common goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) were obviously sensitive to sudden loud noises. On 11 occasions when such occurred (for example, blasting or ship sirens) they immediately took flight and left the bay. On 6 days no birds had returned after 2 hours and less than 10 of the original flock returned on the remaining 5 days, although these usually did so within 10 minutes of the incident. While large vessels anchored in the bay had no effect, smaller boats approaching the flock caused the birds to take flight, normally to the southern part of the bay, from whence they gradually returned once the boat departed. Regular disturbance to birds in the sewer was caused by passers-by on the sea-wall. When approaching from the east, people were visible some distance from the flock, which merely swam further offshore. However, from the west, passers-by tended to come into view suddenly close to the sewer, and the birds usually took flight.