It was an early rise today 27/09/09 and hopefully a chance to see large numbers of Pink feet at my local!
They where already there waiting (typical). at first I could only hear them. But then!
Small numbers at first.
Before too long the sky was full.
Scanning the flocks, brought a wee bonus two Barnacles and a What? well thats the question, a cross/freak
of some sort or something else? Any and all help welcomed.
I kept track for a while and hear are a few shots to help.
Back to the main thread! Vane Farm, at this and indeed any time of year, is highly recommended.
It is quite a sight.
I will be returning during their winter stay and will try to keep this going. Again all help welcomed!
John
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
Hi John... unable to assist on an I.D. I'm afraid but I had to say what brilliant photos. Looks like you had a cracking day - I wish we lived nearer to Vane Farm.
Squirrel
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
hi John
Super shots there.
I think your goose (the white head) might be a hybrid of some type. Sadly in nature there is a common cross breeding of ducks and geese and they do not always stick to their own kind. So you end up with all sorts of interbreed species of all types. Even Farmyard ducks and geese can be included in the miss match of things
At Bedford Park there is a Pochard hybrid of all colouration, but it still retains the circular shape of its head.
Nature can be odd at times.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi John,
The whiteheaded goose could it be a snow goose?
According to a website I found, alhough rare they do visit Britain and can be seen regularly among flocks of Barnacle, Brent and Greenland geese.
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
I'm not much help with ID, H. McHale, but enjoyed your photos very much, thanks.
hi Kezmo
Yes, it is true what you say about Snow Geese joining up forces with other Geese at this time of year.
In this case, I had a good look on my Birding site, checked some photo's. It is not a Snow Goose.
One thing that is obvious, it's beak is completely the wrong colour, Even if is a Juv Snow Goose the colouration is all wrong.
I would say it a cross breed of some type - as far to say it could be half domesticed 'white coloured 'farmyard Goose.
Anyone else got ideas.
Unknown said: Hi John, The whiteheaded goose could it be a snow goose? According to a website I found, alhough rare they do visit Britain and can be seen regularly among flocks of Barnacle, Brent and Greenland geese.
Hi Blackbird
Yeah I think you could be right, I thought it might possibly have been a Lesser Snow Goose a blue-phase goose in particular - having bluish-grey plumage replacing most of the white except on the head, neck and tail tip, although the colour of the peak is not a million miles different from the one in John's photo.
Thanks for the clarification.
Wonderful pics!! It's fantastic to see & hear so many geese! We currently have a lot of Canadas & Greylags coming and going at the local reserve. Including one Canada x Greylag hybrid.
Think yours could be a hybrid too, snow x barnacle (Scroll down a bit): http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.radioactiverobins.com/hybrids/ducks5hybrid%2520aythya%2520collaris/hybrid%2520goose%252007062004%2520Haringvliet,%2520The%2520Netherlands.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.radioactiverobins.com/hybrids/ducks%25205hybrid%2520aythya%2520collaris.htm&usg=__XYFcP0cWL2J62zkXVC6HMGCp2Kk=&h=845&w=842&sz=38&hl=en&start=10&um=1&tbnid=KbC7lmvDGyDjxM:&tbnh=145&tbnw=144&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhybrid%2Bgoose%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
17/10/09 Pink-foot update.
The sight of large numbers of these Geese all taking to the air in one move at dawn is well worth a chill.
Great photos - I think the sounds of Geese and Swans in flight is one of the most evocative sounds of nature, ansd we are very lucky here in Scotland to have the opportunity to both see and hear them in such large numbers.
Have only been to Vane Farm once but it is well worth the visit - good shop and very good food in the restaurant/cafeteria which has TV screens relaying pictures from the Loch via CCTV. Plenty of Bird Feeders too to watch from the windows whilst enjoying the food!!
Top photos again John. What an amazing number of geese. It must be a sight to remember...