Bar headed Goose

This is an Asian species. It is the world's highest flying bird. It has evolved to be able to fly at over 30,000 feet. It needs to do this because it migrates over the Himalayas.

There is a feral population in Britain and in various places it is kept in captivity. As a result of escapes it is believed to be establishing an increasing wild population and certainly breeds here. It is thought that if the numbers take off it could become a nuisance like Canada Geese.

Earlier this year a pair appeared at Leighton Moss. I got some photographs but at too great a distance so they were blocky and only good for identification.

This morning we took the car in for service and walked from the garage into Grange over Sands. By the promenade there is a lake which contains a collection of captive exotic wildfowl. There was not as large a variety today but there were about twenty Bar headed Geese and this is where the picture was taken. Sorry about the poo!