sgraby1982
Weird hybrid goose, Chorlton Water Park, Manchester, March 2010
I saw this very distinctive hybrid goose on several occasions in 2010 at Chorlton Water Park, Manchester, UK (and a couple of times in 2011 at nearby Sale Water Park, where it seemed to have moved to). All other geese present on every occasion I have seen it were Canadas, with which it loosely associated (although they seemed to bully it or try to chase it off on some occasions). It was much smaller than Canada geese (perhaps size of a typical Barnacle Goose). The very dark and bluish body plumage gives an impression of blue phase Snow Goose, but head and bill structure resembles Lesser White-fronted Goose. (Also of note are the highly contrasting orange feet and pink bill.) Suggestions from various people for possible parentage include Barnacle or Canada x White-fronted or Lesser White-fronted; I perhaps favour Barnacle x Lesser White-fronted due to size, facial appearance and a couple of vaguely similar birds online labelled as that combination, although it doesn't very closely resemble any other bird or photo I've seen...
Weird hybrid goose, Chorlton Water Park, Manchester, March 2010
I saw this very distinctive hybrid goose on several occasions in 2010 at Chorlton Water Park, Manchester, UK (and a couple of times in 2011 at nearby Sale Water Park, where it seemed to have moved to). All other geese present on every occasion I have seen it were Canadas, with which it loosely associated (although they seemed to bully it or try to chase it off on some occasions). It was much smaller than Canada geese (perhaps size of a typical Barnacle Goose). The very dark and bluish body plumage gives an impression of blue phase Snow Goose, but head and bill structure resembles Lesser White-fronted Goose. (Also of note are the highly contrasting orange feet and pink bill.) Suggestions from various people for possible parentage include Barnacle or Canada x White-fronted or Lesser White-fronted; I perhaps favour Barnacle x Lesser White-fronted due to size, facial appearance and a couple of vaguely similar birds online labelled as that combination, although it doesn't very closely resemble any other bird or photo I've seen...