Pole Dancing

[Mike Farley]

It seems to be a period when I am finding shots of aquatic avians. I am not too well up on water fowl, but I do not think that this is a duck.

Pole Dancing

Pole Dancing.jpg (94.25 KiB) Viewed 4746 times

[Nina]

Well, if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck then it probably is a duck.

[Mike Farley]

Well, if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck then it probably is a duck.

• Looks like a duck - check
• Swims like a duck - dunno, it did not venture from the pole. Maybe it cannot swim?
• Sounds like a duck - unfortunately, it made no sound either

Hmm, maybe we have a confused duck? Or maybe a confused photographer who goes around taking pictures of ducks by mistake?

[davidb]

It's an Egyptian Goose.

[Mike Farley]

It's an Egyptian Goose.

I wondered if it might be, but the beak was not as orange as I thought it should be. Maybe it is a juvenile? Anyway, at least it is not a duck.

[davidb]

My Collins Bird Guide describes the bill as "dull, pink-red bill with dark outline". I think that matches your goose quite well

[Mike Farley]

I have done a bit of research, aided by some shots I took at the time. The previous day I had been at Barton Broad, where I had taken the picture of the duck I posted in the "Do Not Do This!" thread. That is one species of waterfowl which I do recognise.

There were some notices showing the other birds which were likely to be seen, including the Egyptian Goose. I took some shots of what appeared to be that bird, but on investigating it appears to have been a Greylag Goose. It would explain my confusion over the beak colour, which was definitely shown as being orange of the sign at the broad.

Greylag Goose?

Greylag Goose.jpg (120.9 KiB) Viewed 4706 times

[davidb]

You've identified the second goose correctly. We'll make a birdwatcher/twitcher of you yet