[Bird]: Black Swan

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)

(Bird: Anatidae)

Adult female. 26th April, 2010. Elsternwick Park (Victoria-Australia).

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Notes:

This Australian swan is the reverse of all other swans in the world. No other swan has the nearly completely dark plumage of black swans, nor does any swan have a bright red white-banded bill. The black-necked swan is the only other swan with black plumage, but it does not extend any further than the base of the neck.

I have seen this species in:

• Europe (GB) (captive escape)
• Oceania (Australia)

The first time I recorded this species:

10th February, 2010 at St. Kilda Pier (Victoria-Australia).

[Bird]: Mute Swan

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

(Bird: Anatidae)

Adult female with cygnets. 12th July, 2013. Lodmoor RSPB Reserve (Dorset-UK).

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Notes:

Like crows and doves, swans have made a boundless impression on society. It is not just Western countries that the swan can be found depicted in artwork, heraldry or text. It is only natural that we associate something pure and white with peace and serenity, in stark contrast to the opposing darkness that shrouds secrets and the unknown.

Thanks to introduction, the mute swan has easily become the most widespread swan in the world. It is named for its silent tendencies, though anyone who has been around them long enough knows they don't refrain from hissing at those who walk too close. However, the mute swan seems to forget the basic whistling calls common of its relatives.

I have seen this species in:

• Europe (GB)
• America (USA) 

The first time I recorded this species:

9th August, 2007 in England.

[Bird]: Mandarin Duck

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)

(Bird: Anatidae)

Adult male. 25th April, 2006. Eyeworth Pond, New Forest (Hampshire-UK).

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Notes:

A fantastic looking duck that is introduced to Europe from its native range in Asia.

I have seen this species in:

• Europe (GB)

The first time I recorded this species:

25th April, 2006 at Eyeworth Pond, New Forest (Hampshire-UK).

[Bird]: Cape Barren Goose

Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae)

(Bird: Anatidae)

26th January, 2011. Phillip Island (Victoria-Australia)

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Notes:

A goose unlike any other, and very localized to parts of southern Australia. Its relation to other geese and ducks is still unknown. Well, what more can be said about this odd bird?

I have seen this species in:

• Oceania (Australia)

The first time I recorded this species:

26th January, 2011 on Phillip Island, near the Grand Prix Circuit (Victoria-Australia).

[Bird]: Canada Goose

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

(Bird: Anatidae)

Adult female. 7th June, 2009. Broadmoor Lake Park, Sherwood Park (Alberta-Canada).

Canada geese preparing for migration. 27th August, 2008. pre-development Emerald Hills, Sherwood Park (Alberta-Canada).

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Notes:

Probably the most well-known goose in modern day culture. Indeed it has been introduced all over the world, but not as widely as the house sparrow or rock dove. In its native Canadian range this bird flocks in the thousands every autumn to migrate south to warmer climes, a fantastic spectacle to watch. Even the smallest pond cannot avoid being covered in hundreds if not thousands of Canada geese (and often one or two cackling if one is lucky enough).

Birds kept in captivity represent several subspecies and thus birds from all over America can be seen in places where they are introduced.

I have seen this species in:

• Europe (GB)
• America (USA-Canada) 

The first time I recorded this species:

21st February, 2008 is my first native record of this species along the Edmonton River Valley (Alberta-Canada).

25th April, 2006 is my earliest record of an introduced bird at Eyeworth Pond, New Forest (Hampshire-UK).

[Bird]: Cackling Goose

Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)

(Bird: Anatidae)

ssp. hutchinsii adult in center: compare with the Canada goose (far left) and a probable ssp. tarverni cackling goose (left). 25th October, 2009. Emerald Hills, Sherwood park (Alberta-Canada).

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Notes:

A diminutive Canada goose look-alike. Since the split from Canada goose the cackling goose has caused a massive slew of frustration for birders. However, the stubby bill and rather angular
head shape means this species is still relatively distinguishable, except in the case of hybrids. Care must be taken to distinguish the "lesser" (parvipes) subspecies of the Canada goose which is smaller than the standard Canada subspecies with a shorter bill, though never as short as cackling.  The issue increases when dealing with the larger tarveni Cackling geese, which can be the same size as parvipes Canada.

Confusingly, the minima subspecies of the cackling goose is also referred to as "lesser Canada" by some authorities.

Long taken in captivity with Canada geese in the past, this species intermittently appears with introduced Canada geese in Europe. It would be virtually impossible to claim a natural vagrant in Europe, as 99% of cackling geese are derived from captive birds or released.

I have seen this species in:

• America (Canada) 

The first time I recorded this species:

25th October, 2007 at a lake in pre-developed Emerald Hills, Sherwood Park (Alberta-Canada).

[Bird]: Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

(Bird: Anatidae)

21st August, 2014. Titchfield Haven (Hampshire-UK)

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Notes:

A winter visitor to the UK. Some individuals are seen at other times of the year, and like most waterfowl it is impossible to tell whether they are genuine wild birds or escapes/releases from captivity. It has been shown through genetics that the barnacle goose had evolved from the
cackling goose rather than the Canada goose.

Barnacle geese nest on very high cliff tops. This makes it interesting when the chicks have to fledge
to the water below...

I have seen this species in:

• Europe (GB)

The first time I recorded this species:

Pre-2006 at Lakeside (Hampshire-UK) however this was almost certainly not a wild bird.
I recorded 5 birds at Titchfield Haven on 21st August, 2014 and a single bird at Lower Test Marshes on 25th October, 2014. 

[Bird]: Brent Goose

Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)

(Bird: Anatidae)

ssp. nigricans (black brant). 18th February, 2012. Playa del Rey, Los Angeles (California-USA).

ssp. bernicla (dark-bellied brent goose). 27th October, 2014. Keyhaven (Hampshire-UK).

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Notes:

A small dark goose that winters in large congregations in northern Europe. Three subspecies are recognized, two Atlantic and one Pacific. It is sometimes known as the brant, particularly in America. An exception occurs when the American subspecies occurs as a vagrant in England, in which case it is almost always referred to as brant or black brant among observers even when brent goose is usually used. 

Brant is also common usage in countries where vagrant American "brant" have appeared, but European "brent geese" have not. Australia is one example. In comparison, areas where only "brent geese" have appeared "brent goose" becomes the common colloquialism. This is one of the most peculiar "American vs English" spelling scenarios in history!

I have seen this species in:

• Europe (GB)
• America (USA) 

The first time I recorded this species:

ssp. bernicla: 28th December, 2007 at Lepe Country Park (Hampshire-UK).
ssp: nigricans: 15th January, 2012 at SeaWorld San Diego (California-USA).

[Bird]: Greylag Goose

Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

(Bird: Anatidae)

22nd July, 2009. London. (UK)

Two adults with Canada geese. 27th October, 2014. Keyhaven (Hampshire-UK)

Domestic geese. 19th August, 2010. The Summit, Trafalgar (Victoria-Australia).

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Leucistic. May be domestic offshoot. 22nd July, 2009. London (UK)

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Notes:

Like mallards, this widely domesticated species is hard to identify for sure in the field. Numerous domestic breeds have long been released and hybridized with "pure wild" geese. Despite this, if it looks fine for a normal greylag, it probably is. Any greylag-type geese away from Europe are more suspicious, as greylags do not generally migrate and it is unlikely a true wild bird would turn up in say Australia. Note the scientific name; this goose is the nominate goose species, meaning it was the first species described. It features the latin root of the family name Anatidae in both its genus and species name.

I have seen this species in:

• Europe (GB)
• Oceania (Australia)

The first time I recorded this species:
Before 2007. Lakeside, England.

[Bird]: Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)

(Bird: Anatidae)

6th August, 2009. Sherwood Park (Alberta-Canada).

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Notes:

These geese sound much higher-pitched than the other common species they may be mistaken for at a distance. If you don't see them on the ground keep an ear out, as migrating flocks are noisy and conspicuous. These birds travel very high up in the sky so you might have to squint...

I have seen this species in:

• America (Canada) 

The first time I recorded this species:

6th August, 2009 at Sherwood Park. The pictured flock was flying high over the shopping area on the intersection of Lakeland Dr and Clover Bar Road. (Alberta-Canada).

[Bird]: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

(Bird: Anatidae)

Adults. 25th January, 2015. Circle B Bar Reserve (Florida-USA).

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Notes:

Whistling is not uncommon in the duck world. Many species, wood ducks and wigeon in particular, have whistle-like calls which sound superficially similar to shorebirds.

I have seen this species in:

• America (USA) 

The first time I recorded this species:

25th January, 2015 at the Circle B Bar Reserve (Florida-USA).