Pink Footed Geese??

[glsammy]

Yesterday we saw six of these birds, all looking exactly the same.
I was stumped as to what they were as the markings are not the typical Pink Footed Goose, but I can't think what else they could be?
They were freely mixed with a group of Greylags.
Pauline and Rob Sutton have both said they're possibly some type of Hybrid, and I agree. As they were with Greylags, I suppose they could be a mix of the two??
Anyone any other ideas? Remember it wasn't just one, but six of them.

Sorry the shots aren't so hot, the birds were straight between me and the sun. That's my excuse anyway!

[aeshna5]

They are definitely hybrids Graham + I'm fairly confident the're Canada x Greylag, which is a fairly common cross which I regularly find amongst the feral goose flocks around London.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

They are definitely hybrids Graham + I'm fairly confident the're Canada x Greylag, which is a fairly common cross which I regularly find amongst the feral goose flocks around London.

I'd agree - take a look here Graham:

Hybrid Geese (gobirding.eu)

Jonathan

[Ruth Daniel]

Definitely not true Pink Foots Graham.
That's a very handy link Jonathan,thanks!

[Dae]

I definitely agree, graylag x canada goose hybrids. I know they happen quite a bit, but I've never seen one, much less 6 together. Must've been a weird sight!

[glsammy]

I've changed the title for now, but what I find very curious is that all six had EXACTLY the same markings, no variation at all. Normally these hybrids are a real mixed bag..

[Pigeon feather]

Originally Posted by glsammy

I've changed the title for now, but what I find very curious is that all six had EXACTLY the same markings, no variation at all. Normally these hybrids are a real mixed bag..

Yes that is curious, I had a similar thing happen to me when I visited Leeds Castle not so long ago and was suprised to see a large flock of Barnacle geese in the grounds with some hybrids amongst them that all looked the same unsure what they are crossed with though?

[shearwater66]

The geese ,other than Barnacles, are Emperor Geese

[Jason Green]

Leeds Castle also has some Black Swans as well as Black-necked Swans, I was there last week - no Barnacles or Emporors over the three days though. Lovely birds

Oh yes, almost forgot - the hybrids are interesting; the fawn and black necks of Canada's then the bill and lightly-plumed feathers on the neck of the Greylag. It even seems to show a partial leucism between the crown and bill in the second image, unless this is perhaps an effect of cross-breeding...

[Pigeon feather]

Originally Posted by shearwater66

The geese ,other than Barnacles, are Emperor Geese

Cool! I had no idea, never even heard of Emperor geese, and there's me thinking they were hybrids! and yes Jason I saw the black swans too I saw the flock of Barnacles + Emperors flying overhead and initially thought it was a flock of Canada geese but they looked smaller and were making a different noise, then I found them