Which goose?

pammosley · #1 (**permalink**) 26-11-2009, 01:11 PM

Hi folks, is this a domesticated goose or something else? It was on a riverbank in april

Thanks for looking

loripo · #2 (**permalink**) 26-11-2009, 01:30 PM

I think it's a Snow goose, lovely. I saw one in St James Park at Christmas. There are a few photos inthe Gallery. They have the black tail and that curious gathered effect in the feathers at the neck. I think there are two, so not sure which

Adam Cheeseman · #3 (**permalink**) 26-11-2009, 01:58 PM

Close Loripo. This is actually a Ross' Goose. Smaller and more daintily built than a Snow Goose with a smaller bill and more 'gentle' expression on the face. The black is on the wing tips not the tail by the way.

Cheers,

Adam

loripo · #4 (**permalink**) 26-11-2009, 02:00 PM

Thanks - pretty little geese aren't they. ( I will get one right one day

)

pammosley · #5 (**permalink**) 26-11-2009, 04:02 PM

Thanks both for your help. My hubby said it was a Snow goose, but I thought they were a rarity here, so I just said it was a white domesticated goose

I will look up Ross geese now & find out more. Yes they were very pretty, together with their offspring....aaahh

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 26-11-2009, 07:44 PM

Yes a Ross's Goose + appears to be pinioned, so of obvious captive origin!

davidbr · #7 (**permalink**) 27-11-2009, 12:43 PM

It also has a rather obvious metal ring on its leg

But, yes, Ross's Goose. I've seen several over the years in amongst feral flocks of Barnacle & Canada Geese (one frequented the area between Frampton-on-Severn brickpits and the WWT Slimbridge/Dumbles estaury in Gloucestershire for a while, as far as I know it's still there, and there used to be a pair around the fishing lakes at Snettisham in Norfolk). A couple have turned up (in Norfolk especially) of probably wild origin, though.