Gold coloured goose? Yorkshire UK (1 Viewer)

[Lapwinger]

Dear people of knowledge- can you help me please?

Yesterday (Fri 2nd Jan 2009) on the Yorkshire Dales, in a field near Grimwith Reservoir just east of Grassington, my friend and I saw an unusual goose (or possibly duck) grazing with about 25 greylag. The weather was cold and clear, around freezing, with plenty of frost and ice about.

I know that geese often hybridise but this looked sufficiently different from any other bird we'd seen, can anyone suggest a species?

The bird was slightly bigger than a mallard; gold coloured plumage, black beak legs and feet; black tail; paler head fading to white around eye and next to beak. I will try to attach a photo of the bird and another with the greylag for scale.

One last question: if it is a golden goose, will it lay a golden egg?!

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Ruddy Shelduck

 

[Lapwinger]

Good grief that was quick! I am impressed!

Is it supposed to be there? I can't see it it in my bird book.

 

[colonelboris]

Very rare as a wild vagrant, but somewhat commoner as an escapee. I reckoned it was that from the thread title. I was having a look at a pair today, both escapees.

 

[dddiver]

Looks like a female or a juvenile.

 

[TomSmith]

Good grief that was quick! I am impressed!

Is it supposed to be there? I can't see it it in my bird book.

Not being facetious: you might want to get a better bird book. The Collins guide is good.