Ross's Goose (gobirding.eu)

Ross's Goose Anser rossii (or Chen rossii)

The origin of most European records of Ross's Geese is uncertain. They are certainly a potential vagrant from North America but the situation is complicated by escapes from captivity.

The winter of 2003/2004 saw at least three individuals amongst the flocks of Pink-footed Geese wintering in Norfolk. At least one of these was an escaped bird since it bore a plastic ring, however this bird spent most of its time with feral Greylag Geese and was only occasionally seen with the Pink-foot flocks.

The other two were perhaps wild vagrants, but it is impossible to be certain. One of them had also been present during the previous two winters; when it first arrived in autumn 2001 it was aged as a first-winter, strengthening the case for it being a wild vagrant. Since then one or two Ross's Geese have been present each winter and in 2007/2008 up to five potentially wild birds have been reported, as well as one or two presumed escaped birds still knocking around.



Ross's Goose, Burnham Overy (Norfolk, UK), 24th January 2009

Ross's Goose, N of Stanhoe (Norfolk, UK), 14th November 2003. This was the larger of the two unringed birds wintering in the county in 2003/2004.

Ross's Goose, Wells (Norfolk, UK), 29th November 2003. This was the smaller of the two unringed birds wintering in the county in 2003/2004.

Ross's Goose, Wells (Norfolk, UK), 29th November 2003. The same individual as in the 2 photos above.	Ross's Goose, Stiffkey Fen (Norfolk, UK), 16th September 2004. Although not visible in this photo, this individual bore a plastic ring and was therefore certainly an escape.

The following individual shows two dark secondaries in one wing and three in the other. I'm not sure if these are remnants of immature plumage making this bird is a second-winter, or if it's just variation within adult plumage. If anyone can throw any light on this I'd be interested to hear from you.



second-winter? Ross's Goose, Heacham - Ringstead (Norfolk, UK), 22nd November 2007

second-winter? Ross's Goose, south of Brancaster (Norfolk, UK), 13th November 2007

Ross's Goose, Docking (Norfolk, UK), 18th December 2007	second-winter? Ross's Goose, Choseley (Norfolk, UK), 4th December 2007

presumed escaped Ross's Goose, Snettisham (Norfolk, UK), 22nd February 2008


presumed escaped Ross's Geese, Snettisham (Norfolk, UK), 17th March 2009

You might also be interested in...

Snow Goose

Hybrid Goose, S of Brancaster Staithe, 30-Nov-04

Possible hybrid Ross's Goose x Pink-footed Goose

Ross's Goose x Barnacle Goose, Snettisham, 17-Mar-09

Hybrid Ross's Goose x Barnacle Goose

Domestic Greylag Goose