All_The_Geese

Egyptian goose family, Hyde Park, London. Nice to see the youngsters still with parents. The youngest gosling (first photo) is noticeably smaller than its siblings but seems to be healthy and is being fed supplementary food by volunteers

So many geese, but then there can never be too many goose. River Thames, Caversham

A fine group of geese by the Thames at Port Meadow in Oxford

Chunky domestic geese at Port Meadow in Oxford

Geese and cattle at Port Meadow in Oxford

Hybrid Canada/greylag, greylag and domestic geese at Port Meadow, Oxford. In the winter the Meadow is home to a flock of feral barnacle geese

Egyptian goose family, Hyde Park, London. 4 youngsters snoozing in the sun, with their mother looking over them

Cape Barren goose, one of a pair at @WWTLondon in Barnes. They live near the pelicans in Pelican Creek. Apparently they are nicknamed ‘pig geese’ because they grunt.

Cape Barren goose, one of a pair at @WWTLondon in Barnes. They live near the pelicans in Pelican Creek. Apparently they are nicknamed ‘pig geese’ because they grunt.

RIver Thames, Reading. Pic 1 is a greylag/Canada hybrid. It was associating with Canadas but looks more greylag. Pic 2 is a pure Canada but with an unusual speckled face

This is the youngest of the Canada goose group living near me. It was disappointed that I didn’t have any food, but some other people soon arrived with plenty. River Thames, Caversham

A group of Canada geese approached me while walking by the Thames in Reading. One of the goslings was noticeably younger than the others

These goslings were born to mixed domestic/greylag adult pairs. They are the cutest I’ve seen all year! Often these pairs have mixed broods , some of which will be mainly white adults, while others will be pure grey. River Thames, Reading

There are big numbers of feral geese by the Thames in Reading going through the moulting process. The Canada goose is growing its new flight feathers which first appear covered in blue. Moulting can make geese irritable and the Canada/greylag hybrid was annoyed with me.

Canada goose family, River Thames, Reading

Lots of goslings at St James’s Park in London

Canada and greylag goslings, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Wokingham

A ‘crèche’ of two merged Canada goose families with 18 big goslings. No wonder that Canada geese are so common in southern England. Green Park, Reading

Greylag goose family with 6 fuzzy goslings, Kennet & Avon Canal, Burghfield, Reading

6 Canada goslings on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Reading. The parents took them to a grassy bank under a railway bridge to feed. While I’m typing this I can hear a cuckoo and a Cetti’s warbler