[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).

[Bird]: Magpie Goose

Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)

(Bird: Anseranatidae)

2nd July, 2011. Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands (Victoria-Australia).

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Notes:

Neither goose nor duck, this is the sole extant member of its family. One of Australia's unique native waterfowl, but declining over much of its native range.

I have seen this species in:

• Oceania (Australia)

The first time I recorded this species:

2nd July, 2011 at the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands (Victoria-Australia).

[Bird]: Emu

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

(Bird: Dromaiidae)

26th June, 2011. Lurg vicinity, (Victoria-Australia)

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Notes:

The bird equivalent of the koala or kangaroo in Australia. A well-known species that isn't too rare, and not a small bird!

I have seen this species in:

• Oceania (Australia)

The first time I recorded this species:

26th June, 2011 in the fading light around Lurg (Victoria-Australia).

[Bird]: Western Marsh Harrier

Western (Eurasian) Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

(Bird: Acciptridae)

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

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Notes:

True to its name you are most likely to see this bird at a wetland or marsh site unless you happen to catch one on migration.

I have seen this species in:

• Europe (GB-Other)
• America (North-Central-South) 
• Asia 
• Africa 
• Oceania (Australia-Other)
• Antarctica

The first time I recorded this species:

6th July, 2009 at the Cotentin Regional Park in (Normandy-France).

[Bird]: Red Kite

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

(Bird: Acciptridae)

1st July, 2013. Gigrin Farm (Wales-UK).

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Leucistic bird. 1st July, 2013. Gigrin Farm (Wales-UK).

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Notes:

Kites are odd birds that are unlike hawks or falcons. The triangular tail and wing shape is quite specific to these birds. They are generally scavengers and glide and drift around, presumably the reasoning behind the name kite. This species, despite its inability to hunt and kill live prey, has been poisoned and shot by gamekeepers throughout history in fear for their livestock. Some early declines of this bird were inadvertently due to toxic insecticides.

I have seen this species in:

• Europe (GB)

The first time I recorded this species:

1st December, 2007 at a roost site (Hampshire-UK).