PICTURE GALLERY

 Geese

A Greenland White-fronted Goose was present at Manton on 17 November 2002.

Photo and text below: Matthew Berriman
Greenland White-front is currently still a race of White-fronted Goose, and is much rarer inland than European White-front. It can be distinguished from the accompanying Greylags by its smaller size, darker plumage and black area at the base of the bill (this bird is a juvenile so doesn't have the 'White-front' of an adult). A European White-front would show a pink (rather than orange) bill, be slightly paler, and I think smaller still.
 

Pink-footed Geese are unusual winter visitors to Rutland Water. This one was present on 24 March 2003.

Photo: Tim Caldicott


Greylag Geese are common residents at Rutland Water - and, as can be seen, they breed here!

Photo: Tim Caldicott

Canada Geese were introduced to Britain in the 17th century. In North America they are highly migratory, but have adapted to a sedentary existence in Britain. Many people wish that they would migrate - preferably permanently! - but as this picture shows they are actually very elegant birds.

The peak number recorded at Rutland Water was 1539 in September 2000.

Photo: Tim Caldicott


Pink-footed Geese are unusual winter visitors to Rutland Water. This one was present on 24 March 2003.

Photo: Tim Caldicott


Greylag Geese are common residents at Rutland Water - and, as can be seen, they breed here!

Photo: Tim Caldicott

Canada Geese were introduced to Britain in the 17th century. In North America they are highly migratory, but have adapted to a sedentary existence in Britain. Many people wish that they would migrate - preferably permanently! - but as this picture shows they are actually very elegant birds.

The peak number recorded at Rutland Water was 1539 in September 2000.

Photo: Tim Caldicott

This pair of Canada Geese were seen with 25 chicks on 20th May 2002! Is this a record??

Picture: Pete Wilson Ogston Bird Club nr Chesterfield
 

Dark-bellied Brent Geese are rare winter visitors.
This one was present in the South Arm on 18 September 2003

Picture: Matthew Berriman

Photo: Tim Caldicott

This is a Barnacle Goose - compare the head pattern with that of the Canada Goose above. Wild Barnacle Geese breed in Greenland and Spitzbergen and spend the winter on the Isle of Islay and the Solway Firth respectively.

From the early days of the reservoir occasional 'escapes' have been recorded and, in November 1993, a flock of 26 probably truly wild birds. Since 1996 a group of 10 or so have spent much of the winter at the reserve, disappearing during the summer, probably to breed elsewhere in the UK as part of the growing feral population.

In recent years this resident species has become very easy to see at Rutland Water - and it causes some visitors identification problems! (They are Egyptian Geese!)


Photo: Chas Maxwell
Photo: Tim Caldicott