Is it to Early for Geese

[big bill]

The past 3 days we have had Geese flying over in a NW direction about 10-15 in each skeene ,did not manage to get any pics but they looked rather dark with white necks and dark heads if I can remember correctly .
Even the local river warden thought it a bit too early for them saying do they know something that we dont sort of thing.
What do you all think ? in the past 10 years since I have been up here I have never seen them this early myself.

[RobSutton]

Could they be Canada Geese?

[muldonach]

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

I think the beauly firth is NW of Nairn?

cheers
mac

[big bill]

Not to sure Rob only got a quick look but even then never seen them this early up here

[big bill]

Thats right Mac its about 18 miles west of us but like I just said to Rob have never seen the geese this early notmaly they start to arrive around the mid Oct onwards never this early

[ray55]

hi Bill

There's quite a few of them down here at langstone harbour...maybe they are getting here early before the mad rush starts....?????

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by big bill

Thats right Mac its about 18 miles west of us but like I just said to Rob have never seen the geese this early notmaly they start to arrive around the mid Oct onwards never this early

Hi Bill,

I think Mac was indicating that the geese might be Canadas on 'moult migration' from Yorkshire to the Beuly Firth. Canada geese are mainly resident throughout the year in the UK, so they don't migrate here in the autumn.

Alternatively, it may be a local population of Canadas or locally bred greylags that are feeding during the day on distant stubbles, then flighting back to large bodies of water (or the coast) in the evening to roost. If so, it's possible mallard may be using the same flightpath in the evening, as they are mainly nocturnal feeders and often use the same fields for stubbling as the geese - so keep your eyes open just before it goes dark!

Cheers
Jonathan

[Dogghound]

Loads of canadian and greylag grouping up around here at the moment.

Had a single pink foot yesterday amoungst a group of greylag too.

[big bill]

Thanks guys for the replies all the flights have been mid morning but will keep an eye out for them with camera at the ready just in case they come by again

[Picidae]

Hi Bill

They sound more like birds from the Scottish population of wild Greylag from your description - during the post-breeding moult period, geese disperse from their breeding grounds and congregate on more coastal feeding grounds to moult - Beuly being one such destination. Primarily as a means of reducing predation risk during the roost and disturbance during the flightless period of wing moult - a dispersal pattern seen in most terrestrial feeding water birds. (The migratory Greylags (from Iceland) that winter on the Moray and other parts of Scotland/Ireland won't be arriving until first/second week of Oct and moult in Icelandic sites but non-migratory Scottish breeders may arrive much earlier to their moult sites.)

Lovely to see though and nothing like watching squadrons of wild geese flying over - I'd recommend Islay during October if you've never been there!!