Friday, 12 December 2025

Burnt goose...

Canada Geese (with Greylag friend) including neck-collard bird 'AJE'

I haven't blogged-off about Canada Geese before - which for a lad at my level of #Wildfowl #elite seems utterly remiss. 

Much like Peter Scott before me, I really need to disseminate this knowledge and passion. 

I put search phrase "goose" into my Google Photos archive and after 16 hours of viewing and deliberation I was able to identify the following photos to share: 

Feeding Cacklers at Slimbridge back in 2009

Back in 2018 - the Two Jonnies co-hosts knew what was up

This is a baby Canada Goose - photo taken in 2015

Back in the first winter period 2023 we had a Barnacle Goose x Cackling Goose wintering at Walberswick:
Barnacle Goose x Cackling Goose, Walberswick, February 2023

This bird is likely coming across the north sea from feral goose populations in the Netherlands. Even better than that, this winter the same flock is holding a Richardson's Canada Goose: 

Richardson's Canada Goose - Walberswick, 25th October 2025

I've also seen a Todd's in Lothian back in October 2022, an absolute cracker:

Todd's Canada Goose - Skateraw, Lothian, 23rd October 2022

Todd's Canada Goose - Skateraw, Lothian, 23rd October 2022

When I visit the BTO Nunnery Lakes, to assist Nick with his patch birding, I also like to further science by reporting the neck-collard Canada Geese. On my last visit I saw three neck-collard birds, I was able to read the digits on two of them 'AHT' and 'AJE'. I had recorded AHT on a visit back in January, so it was good to re-sight it at the end of the year too: 

Canada Goose 'AHT' Nunnery Lakes, 09th January 2025

Canada Goose 'AHT' Nunnery Lakes, 05th December 2025

These neck-collard birds were ringed back in 2009 and have ventured as far as East Wretham Heath - almost 6 miles to the north east of Nunnery Lakes. As well as Riddlesworth 7 miles to the east. Serious stuff. 

Foot It - Reckoning

  90 species - 75 miles - 156k steps A leisurely, borderline idle, start to proceedings really. Not leaving the house till 06:45… this got m...