Quote:
Originally Posted by kestrelx
1) Are the Bar-headed Geese clipped or can they fly? Down south we have the Egyptian Geese which are spreading around from one pair in 1999 they are free flying ferals. I guess it will be 50 years before they spread to the Hynburn Area. Another one is the Chinese Mandarin Duck another feral species in the wild.  |
Can't help you there Kes - didn't get close enough to investigate! I think there may have been other species around but we didn't see any in our brief visit. Have seen mandarins around in other places.
BTW those geese were not in Hyndburn - they're in Grange over Sands on the edge of the Lake District. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about them...
The Bar-headed Goose is often kept in captivity, as it is considered beautiful and breeds readily. Records in
Great Britain are frequent, and almost certainly relate to escapes. However, the species has bred on several occasions in recent years and around five pairs were recorded in 2002, the most recent available report of the Rare Birds Breeding Panel. It is possible the species is becoming gradually more established in Great Britain. The bird is sociable and causes no problems for other birds. The "wild" population is believed to be declining in Great Britain due to over-hunting.
Six rare birds in one pic | Flickr - Photo Sharing!