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As usual in mid-late October, skies are currently full of flocks of geese. Could hear them from inside the house last weekend.
What kind of geese are they?
And why are they flying north for the winter?
What kind of geese are they?
And why are they flying north for the winter?
In reply to DougG: was watching some at windsor race course early tues morning with the morning mist - made me want my camera!
how DO they fly in such perfect formation all the time?? Or more's to the point WHY?
how DO they fly in such perfect formation all the time?? Or more's to the point WHY?
In reply to Clears:
What were they doing in the S in the summer then? Or is Britain a stop-off station for them?
What were they doing in the S in the summer then? Or is Britain a stop-off station for them?
In reply to DougG: There was a small flock of domestic (white) geese running loose on the A8 near edinburgh airport on tuesday night causing havoc with the traffic. Just imagine the fun the airport authorities have at this time of year as we get huge flocks flying around our way.
In reply to DougG:
Right, can someone clear something up for me.
I always thought they were called Canada Geese but apparently in N. America you can call them Canadian Geese. Presumably because they were actually born in Cananda and live there??
If they were born and live elsewhere on the planet they are called Canada Geese??
Confused.
The Ent ™
Right, can someone clear something up for me.
I always thought they were called Canada Geese but apparently in N. America you can call them Canadian Geese. Presumably because they were actually born in Cananda and live there??
If they were born and live elsewhere on the planet they are called Canada Geese??
Confused.
The Ent ™
UK Canada Geese are non migratory. In North America they fly south (from Candaa to the US). In the UK they're resident all year. The winter numbers increase a little - presumably migration of Scandanavian birds to the UK.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/canadagoose/
All the other geese (Brent, Greylag, Pinkfooted, Bean) just come for the winter. Although there are some resident Greylags.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/canadagoose/
All the other geese (Brent, Greylag, Pinkfooted, Bean) just come for the winter. Although there are some resident Greylags.
In reply to Philip:
No, you get non-migratory Canada Geese in the USA too. They're horrible, dirty birds and I hate them!
> In North America they fly south (from Candaa to the US).
No, you get non-migratory Canada Geese in the USA too. They're horrible, dirty birds and I hate them!
In reply to DougG:
Problably pink footed and/or greylag geese which fly to us from greenland/iceland to spend the winter in our balmy climate. So here is south for them. They 'commute' in all directions to graze in the fields. I really like the sound of geese. I miss them since I moved away from aberdeen
Problably pink footed and/or greylag geese which fly to us from greenland/iceland to spend the winter in our balmy climate. So here is south for them. They 'commute' in all directions to graze in the fields. I really like the sound of geese. I miss them since I moved away from aberdeen
In reply to gingerdave13:
No idea how - a bit like asking how do you walk and balance?
However, I do know that they fly in such formation as it is very aerodynamically efficient. They are sort of in each others slip stream without being in any turbulent air. I think the lead bird swaps over from time to time. A bit like cyclists in the Tour de France.
> how DO they fly in such perfect formation all the time?? Or more's to the point WHY?
No idea how - a bit like asking how do you walk and balance?
However, I do know that they fly in such formation as it is very aerodynamically efficient. They are sort of in each others slip stream without being in any turbulent air. I think the lead bird swaps over from time to time. A bit like cyclists in the Tour de France.
In reply to DougG: Skeins surely, not flocks.
In reply to John2:
Perhaps, but it does run the risk of this sort of exchange.
"Oh, look at that skein of geese up there."
"What the fcuk are you on about."
Perhaps, but it does run the risk of this sort of exchange.
"Oh, look at that skein of geese up there."
"What the fcuk are you on about."
In reply to John2:
Only when airborne. The ones I saw were running around on the road and would be a gaggle.
> (In reply to DougG) Skeins surely, not flocks.
Only when airborne. The ones I saw were running around on the road and would be a gaggle.
In reply to graeme jackson: Doug said that the skies were full of them. I wasn't talking to you
In reply to gingerdave13:
The bird in the lead (at the forward point of the 'V' formation) is working the hardest by being the first to 'break through' the air, which is offering resistance to its flight. Just as a boat leaves a V-shaped wake of smoother water behind it, the lead bird leaves a V-shaped wake of slightly 'smoother' air behind it (actually the lead bird creates a trail of air turbulence that helps lift along the V-shaped direction), and it is a bit easier for the other birds to fly in the wake of the lead bird. If you watch a V-formation carefully, you'll notice that the lead bird does not stay in that position for very long and will drop back into the formation, while another, not-as-tired bird takes the lead, breaking through the air first.
> (In reply to DougG)
> how DO they fly in such perfect formation all the time?? Or more's to the point WHY?
> how DO they fly in such perfect formation all the time?? Or more's to the point WHY?
The bird in the lead (at the forward point of the 'V' formation) is working the hardest by being the first to 'break through' the air, which is offering resistance to its flight. Just as a boat leaves a V-shaped wake of smoother water behind it, the lead bird leaves a V-shaped wake of slightly 'smoother' air behind it (actually the lead bird creates a trail of air turbulence that helps lift along the V-shaped direction), and it is a bit easier for the other birds to fly in the wake of the lead bird. If you watch a V-formation carefully, you'll notice that the lead bird does not stay in that position for very long and will drop back into the formation, while another, not-as-tired bird takes the lead, breaking through the air first.
In reply to Glyn Jones: Road cyclists do a similar thing.
In reply to John2: What, honk and gaggle and crap on passersby?
In reply to dan bailey: http://tiny...
In reply to DougG: They are also quite crafty in that they will fly very high and use high altitude winds to push them along thus saving wads of energy.
Lovely birds, few sounds are as evocative as geese in winter.
Lovely birds, few sounds are as evocative as geese in winter.
In reply to Removed User:
Why do they fly north for winter though? They clearly like it cold, so where have they been during the summer?
Why do they fly north for winter though? They clearly like it cold, so where have they been during the summer?
In reply to DougG: They may be geese that live in the UK and are reverse migrating. Some Canada geese and greylag geese do this. It is thought that a small proportion of all migrating birds are genetically programmed to fly in the opposite direction to their peers. That way if anything happens to the main population there will hopefully be a small reservoir of individuals who can carry on the species. Increased populations of birds such as blackcap and willow warbler in southern England are thought to be due to this, the rest of them are larging it up on the Med or N Africa somewhere.
In reply to Glyn Jones: thought that was the case i suppose they can feel the effects when flying, it's just when looking from the ground you can almost hear
'tally ho boys lets go get those tommie barstards!'
that and the dambusters theme tune..
i was semi awake whilst watching them and that coupled with the rising mist, the church steeple and the boat going by on the canal made for a lovely morning.
'tally ho boys lets go get those tommie barstards!'
that and the dambusters theme tune..
i was semi awake whilst watching them and that coupled with the rising mist, the church steeple and the boat going by on the canal made for a lovely morning.
In reply to DougG:
I think that Siberia, and central Europe are far colder that the UK and other areas for summer. Also, a route to the US flying across land masses on the way would take them north via greenland and Canada. Relative to many other areas at the same latitude we are unusually warm in winter and a good overwintering place for many birds who would otherwise be frozen somewhere. I think.
I think that Siberia, and central Europe are far colder that the UK and other areas for summer. Also, a route to the US flying across land masses on the way would take them north via greenland and Canada. Relative to many other areas at the same latitude we are unusually warm in winter and a good overwintering place for many birds who would otherwise be frozen somewhere. I think.
In reply to DougG:
Don't know why I wrote 'summer' I meant winter - winter here being mild in comparison.
Don't know why I wrote 'summer' I meant winter - winter here being mild in comparison.
In reply to DougG: If you look up Doug and peer very hard you may be able to discern a large 'Y' shape in the sky. Britain lies underneath two main flyways for migrating birds. One branch comes from Arctic Canada and Greenland and the other from Siberia and Scandanavia. They meet over the UK and because we have relatively mild Winters many of the birds stay here. We get up to 2 million birds wintering here each year. If there is a cold snap in continental Europe then birds start heading West and we get many more flying in. And not just geese but all sorts including starlings and finches too!
In reply to DougG:
The peat bogs on Islay are noted as a feeding/breeding ground for the greylag...possibly some of these guts moving north to Greenland.
By the by, can anyone remember the origins of this snippet of conversation (it's from a book).
"Why do you think there is always one 'wing' of a skein of geese that's longer than the other ?"
"It contains more geese...."
The peat bogs on Islay are noted as a feeding/breeding ground for the greylag...possibly some of these guts moving north to Greenland.
By the by, can anyone remember the origins of this snippet of conversation (it's from a book).
"Why do you think there is always one 'wing' of a skein of geese that's longer than the other ?"
"It contains more geese...."
In reply to DougG:
Anyone else read a book called Kallee and Other Stories? Series of animal stories of a type fashionable around the war. It has a great one about a migrating goose.
jcm
Anyone else read a book called Kallee and Other Stories? Series of animal stories of a type fashionable around the war. It has a great one about a migrating goose.
jcm
In reply to Removed User:
A few years ago a mate of mine (forester) managed to get hold of a freshly-shot wild goose. He brought it round, MrsG cooked it.
This was during my vegetarian years, so I didn't eat any myself. Apparently it was spectacularly good.
A few years ago a mate of mine (forester) managed to get hold of a freshly-shot wild goose. He brought it round, MrsG cooked it.
This was during my vegetarian years, so I didn't eat any myself. Apparently it was spectacularly good.
In reply to DougG: So your mate goosed your wife whilst you watched? Give him an Insch, he'll take a mile!
In reply to Removed User:
Aye very good!
He got some venison a couple of times as well. Pity the bugger moved away tae Lithgae really.
Aye very good!
He got some venison a couple of times as well. Pity the bugger moved away tae Lithgae really.
In reply to bergalia: Islay is probably better known for its Greenland whitefronted geese (which nest in Greenland but winter on Islay & other parts of Ireland & Scotland)
How do you cook wild goose? The lack of fat would seem to rule out the traditional roast it breast-side down. Curious as a bloke at work had one and wondered how to cook it. He ended up currying the breast meat.
In reply to DougG:
Its slightly different down here (Liverpool) you generally see the main geese flocks mid september/early October with just the late arrivals heading north or south about now.
The Marshlands on the Sefton Coastline are a fantastic sight at this time of year. The noise is unbelievable and the shear numbers of wintering birds both Geese and Swans is breathtaking especially when they take to the air.
Its slightly different down here (Liverpool) you generally see the main geese flocks mid september/early October with just the late arrivals heading north or south about now.
The Marshlands on the Sefton Coastline are a fantastic sight at this time of year. The noise is unbelievable and the shear numbers of wintering birds both Geese and Swans is breathtaking especially when they take to the air.
In reply to DougG: they will be pink foots and greylags which arrive here for winter from the much colder parts of northern europe and greenland. they make good eating too!
yum
yum
In reply to Removed User: yes, next question ?
In reply to Removed User: Many years ago someone I knew who lived on a houseboat in Oxford on the dole was feelng pretty depressed come wintertime. He wrapped two mogadons up in a crust of bread on Christmas Day and threw it in front of a passing swan. Swan keeled over not much later, he leaped into his rowing boat and retrieved it. Pretty tough, apparently.
In reply to Doug:
Dash it Doug - you're right. The old memory failing. But I do remember back in the 1980' a great stramash between a whisky company on Islay (which wanted to 'cut' the area) and the WWF over protecting the peat bogs for the geese. It ended in victory - and a nice WWF award to a local man who stood out, and out-argued, both the whisky company and a 'world famous TV nature guru of the day).
> (In reply to bergalia) Islay is probably better known for its Greenland whitefronted geese
Dash it Doug - you're right. The old memory failing. But I do remember back in the 1980' a great stramash between a whisky company on Islay (which wanted to 'cut' the area) and the WWF over protecting the peat bogs for the geese. It ended in victory - and a nice WWF award to a local man who stood out, and out-argued, both the whisky company and a 'world famous TV nature guru of the day).
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