BLACK GOOSE WITH WHITE V IN TAIL uk (1 Viewer)

[w.oody]

Hi all ,saw about 12 black geese in Poole harbour in the south of England this weekend , when in flight they are about the same size as a Canada goose but are totaly black except for a white V in the tail area and they seem to stick together and not mix with the canada geese .Any help would be appreciated as I can't find them in my books.

 

[mudman]

Brent, but alot smaller than canada geese.

 

[w.oody]

dont think so , I should have said this was a top view as they were coming into land and were totaly black except for the white V which would have been about 50mm in width

 

[birding maniac]

Brent for me too...

 

[birding maniac]

Search Brent Goose in flight from above into google

 

[_pauls]

Certainly sounds like Brent to me. Take a look at this pic.

 

[Adam W]

Yep sounds like Brent to me as mudman said they are a lot smaller than Canada's but size is never easy to judge.

 

[w.oody]

oh dont I look silly now oops

 

[toadoftoadhall]

seen exactly the same thing you describe here in Worcester last weekend, flying over the river Severn. Did look black though, and the Brent is brown-ish isnt it? Was a bit smaller than a Canada, but not much smaller.
Could only see one though, and was in flight, right over my head about 5m away.

toad

 

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

seen exactly the same thing you describe here in Worcester last weekend, flying over the river Severn. Did look black though, and the Brent is brown-ish isnt it? Was a bit smaller than a Canada, but not much smaller.
Could only see one though, and was in flight, right over my head about 5m away.

toad

This sounds like could have been Cormorant (I'm assuming if it was overhead lack of white on upperside wouldn't have been determined and it would have just looked black, as Cormorants do). Certainly on location would have thought more likely than Brent

Jan

 

[toadoftoadhall]

if the Cormorant has the black V underside of tail feathers, then it may well be, but def had the white V on underside of tail. Sort of a flappy flyer, lots of exertion and not much speed, if you know what I mean.
toad

 

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

if the Cormorant has the black V underside of tail feathers, then it may well be, but def had the white V on underside of tail. Sort of a flappy flyer, lots of exertion and not much speed, if you know what I mean.
toad

Flight sounds spot on for Cormorant. I suppose the impression you got could have been caused by the white thigh patches (breeding plumage but I've definately noted it as early as January before). Have a look at the image I've linked to, It's from the side slightly but these patches are very obvious from directly below too.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4381259513_c9237b681b.jpg

Jan

Edit: Not saying it wasn't a Brent Goose and Dark-bellied Brent Goose particularly generally look very dark with a white area near the tail in most conditions in flight, but they are one of the least likely geese (probably the most unlikely of the regular geese) to be seen inland. I'm convinced the OP's birds were Brent Geese, but yours sounds like a Cormorant to me. Brent Geese from below have far more white than from above. From above there is what could be described as a white v, from below they have an entire white rear end from lower belly back, with an inconspicuous black tail band

 

[Steve Schoech]

I didn't realize brent was anglo for brant. Curious given their genus is Branta ... :^)

Sometimes it's as if we speak entirely different languages ... again, joking...

 

[chris butterworth]

Sometimes it's as if we speak entirely different languages ... again, joking...

Nah. We speak English, that's the difference

Chris

 

[MJB]

I didn't realize brent was anglo for brant. Curious given their genus is Branta ... :^)

Sometimes it's as if we speak entirely different languages ... again, joking...

George Bernard Shaw is reputed to have originated the saying, "The English and the Americans are two peoples divided by a common language", although others insist it was Oscar Wilde. They were both Irish and quick to make pithy comments, but I have also seen the saying attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson; he was American, so Steve, maybe you can choose which you would prefer?
MJB

 

[Steve Schoech]

George Bernard Shaw is reputed to have originated the saying, "The English and the Americans are two peoples divided by a common language", although others insist it was Oscar Wilde. They were both Irish and quick to make pithy comments, but I have also seen the saying attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson; he was American, so Steve, maybe you can choose which you would prefer?
MJB

It seems as if your quote, which I've certainly heard is one form or another previously, or a slightly modified version is credited to not only the three you mention, but also Churchill ... With no data, I'd credit it to one of the Brits given your long history of witty turns of phrases. One of my favorite (it's been part of my sig for some time) is by Winnie ...

"Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing ... after they have exhausted all other possibilities" Sir Winston Churchill

 

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

Regarding the choice of "Brent" in the name, a long time ago (aged about 8 or 9) I started as a young birder in London. The neighbouring Borough was Brent, and the place I used to frequent at least weekly and often every day of my teenage life was called Brent Reservoir. Naturally in my very early days this caused some confusion when I quite naturally assumed that Brent Goose was for more likely than Canada Goose on my patch Unlike Sandwich Tern and Kentish Plover, I don't think Brent Goose even has the excuse of having been mis-named after the place (unless they were luckier than me I saw 4 Penduline Tits and Purple Heron among other species there but never Brent Goose)!

Reminiscing

Jan

 

[David FG]

It seems as if your quote, which I've certainly heard is one form or another previously, or a slightly modified version is credited to not only the three you mention, but also Churchill ... With no data, I'd credit it to one of the Brits given your long history of witty turns of phrases. One of my favorite (it's been part of my sig for some time) is by Winnie ...

"Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing ... after they have exhausted all other possibilities" Sir Winston Churchill

I've never heard it credited to Churchill, and Oscar Wilde and G B Shaw were NOT Brits - they were Irish.

 

[MJB]

I've never heard it credited to Churchill, and Oscar Wilde and G B Shaw were NOT Brits - they were Irish.

I did state GBS & Wilde were Irish in my earlier post, and I read Steve's response more broadly as referring to the long line of wits who originated from other than the Irish. Without even venturing near the case of those from Northern Ireland who wish to be described either as 'Irish' or 'British', if you consider that geographically the 'British Isles' include the island of which Eire is a major part politically, Steve could almost be said to be right! However, because so many people prefer to be considered as part of a community and not geographically (think of how many of the English shudder at being descibed as 'European'), I almost take your point. I say almost, because Churchill isn't exactly a 'Brit' either - he's half American, given the ancestry of his mother Jenny (or Jennie) Jerome.
MJB

 

[birdboybowley]

"Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing ... after they have exhausted all other possibilities" Sir Winston Churchill

Brilliant - may have to change my signature!! :-O