Barnacle Bill

[Deb London]

Hi all,

I spotted what appears to be a Barnacle Goose in a local field yesterday. It was in a flock of 15 Canada Geese.

I have never seen one and was wondering how common an occurrence this is.

And why aren't the geese breeding?

The birds kept their distance, but I managed a few shots of them.





Thanks.

[Jonners]

It is indeed a Barnacle Goose. I believe that most of the Barnacle Geese seen at this time of the year in the UK (certainly in the south) originate from escapees/feral population.

[david156]

If it was a wild bird it would probably be nesting now in places like Svalbard within the arctic circle. Still a great bird to see all the same.

Cheers David

[bigdave60dog]

No, It`s more likely that it was injured so was not in good enough condition to return to it`s arctic breeding grounds.

Whooper swans will do similar stopover for the same reason.
Dave

[solus]

Originally Posted by bigdave60dog

No, It`s more likely that it was injured so was not in good enough condition to return to it`s arctic breeding grounds.

Dave

I have to disagree there as there are quite large populations of free-flying feral Barnacles in a number of places in the south of England as well as a good few escapees from ornamental collections.

[Deb London]

Oh well, not so rare, but it made my wet and windy walk a lot better.

Thanks all for your suggestions.

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by solus

I have to disagree there as there are quite large populations of free-flying feral Barnacles in a number of places in the south of England as well as a good few escapees from ornamental collections.

They have been breeding at Minsmere for many years.
On the scrape, very easy to see.

Most of them disperse later in the years, but there are always some around.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Feral populations are scattered over the southern half of England. Large ones in the Midlands and also around Dungeness and Sheppey. Have had a flock of 50 presumed feral birds winter near me in Surrey for the past two years. A pair also breed on the reservoir I can see from my house.

Cheers,

Adam

[Deb London]

Thanks both. I'm not a duck/goose person usually, but this bird was beautiful, and now I might start looking more closely at the wildfowl in my area.

[david156]

There was a group of 4 or 5 Barnacle Geese, a Ross's Goose and a hideous looking crossbreed around the Cley reserve this winter. Because of the number of escapees of both species and because of the crossbred bird everyone assumed that they were from feral stock.
Oh how silly of us to think that! The same group was tracked heading north through scotland in the spring!