White-fronted Geese

The White-fronted Goose is a grey goose with a conspicuous large white patch at the front of the head around the beak, bold black bars on the belly and orange legs.

There are a number of different sub-species and 2 races visit the UK from October to March. Breeding birds from Siberia winter in southern England on the Severn estuary in Gloucestershire and the Swale estuary in Kent whilst breeding birds from Greenland winter in Ireland and western Scotland.

The latter race, the Greenland White-fronted Goose, is much darker overall, with only a very narrow white tip to the tail (broader on the other races), more black barring on its belly and usually has an orange (not pink) bill. Recent ecological studies suggest that the Greenland birds should probably be considered a separate species.

This photograph is of a group of Greenland White-fronted Geese.

Date: 5th November 2007

Location: Saligo to Gruinart, Islay, Argyll