Various Geese on Granta Park

There have been three species of geese on Granta Park recently, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, and Barnacle Goose, and Andy M took a few photos to show the differences.

 Greylag Goose 

Large (length ~80cm), mostly grey-brown,   

brown neck with obvious striations, large orange bill, pink/orange legs.

The only 'grey goose' seen in large numbers in UK in summer.

Greylag Goose

 Canada Goose 

Largest UK goose (length ~90cm), body mostly grey-brown,

long black neck, black head with white 'chin-strap', black bill, dark legs.

Introduced from N America, now breeds widely in UK.

Barnacle Goose

Medium-sized (length ~65cm), body mostly grey with darker bars on back,

shorter black neck, head mostly white with black cap, small black bill, dark legs.

Mostly a winter visitor to UK (breeds in Arctic), but a few birds remain and breed in the UK.