Goose Bumps

With the autumn definitely started, there will be thousands and thousands of geese coming to this side of Europe. But there are also geese who are permanent residents of the UK, such as the Canada Geese (Branta Candensis) as shown in the banner who are quite frankly turning into almost a pest in this part of Europe.

Nevertheless, this blog is all about geese and the beautiful variety there is amongst them.

The first type to show is the White-fronted Goose (Anser Albifrons). They are very recognizable with their white band around the orange bill. They breed in Russia or Greenland, but fly to our shores in the Autumn. The picture on the left was taken in Slimbridge Wetland Centre where they are living all year round. But I still need to see the White-fronted Geese in the wild, so this picture has to do for the moment.

They do have a little cousin, the Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser Erythropus) that is smaller in size and has a more pink coloured bill. They rarely come to the UK for the winter, although with a reintroduction program in Sweden, this may change.

On this picture you can also see the Red-breasted Goose (Branta Ruficollis). The Red-breasted Goose is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. They are normally staying near the Black Sea during the winter and breed in North Russia (Siberia).

Sometimes you see them in north-west Europe, where they will stay in small groups during the winter, in amongst other geese. Their colours however are very distinguishable. This picture (as well as the one above) was taken at Arundel Wetland Centre.

But if you don’t like the coloured geese, you can always refer back to the domestically bread Embden Goose (Anser Anser Domesticus). Men have created this breed and you can find them in parks, at farms and basically everywhere throughout the year, since they do not migrate.

There are many more types of goose that I could show you. But let’s finish with the Greylag Goose (Anser Anser). It is in fact the ancestor of the domesticated Embden Goose and is also non migratory. I give you: the original goose.