Goose, West Sussex, UK (1 Viewer)

[rylirk]

Saw this at Arundel WWT today (from the Ramsar hide, not in the zoo part...) and I cannot for the life of me think what this could be if not a cackling goose? I have many photos of it and a recording of it calling... interested in your thoughts! It flew in about 3pm calling furiously, and was mostly on its own although it did react to Canada geese passing it a couple of times.

 

[Farnboro John]

Not all the geese at Arundel are fully under control (to put it mildly). I've seen Cackling Goose as far afield as Farlington but always assumed an Arundel origin: others have detected probably the same bird on the Isle of Wight and at other locations.

ID correct but bird plastic.

John

 

[rylirk]

I didn't think they kept Cacklings at WWT? I'm sure it probably is just one of their birds if they do keep them, but I was just a little confused by the lack of ring and the fact a regular in the hide had never seen it before either.

 

[Mokey]

Pretty sure it's Small (Ridgway's) Cackling Goose (Branta Hutchinsii Minima). There has been a pair (or more on occasion) arriving there every spring for a few years now. I don't think they've kept Cackling for at least 15 years (if ever), presumably came from another private collection but who knows why anyone would want to keep them, they're like a noisy ugly Canada Goose. 😄