The number of geese around here seems to have increased even more! There was a flotilla on the river and a huge number grazing in the nearby fields. I wonder if some of them have come here to overwinter, adding to the resident flock. It's a mixture of Canada and Greylags... and one rogue white goose. Can you spot that one? I try to like them but they're incredibly noisy, often sounding like dogs barking. They leave a huge mess of droppings too, which might be alright in the fields but isn't good on the canal towpath.
Watching those on the river did make me slow down enough to also see a kingfisher. They're really quite small and very fast; hard to spot, even though they are so brightly coloured. This one was darting around just below me on the river bank but then, when some more people walked past, it sped over to the other side of the river and out of sight. It was a lovely little gift to me on my walk.
Geese are a problem here in Germany. They don't have much in terms of natural predators, and with people feeding them (which has been forbidden for years) and of course them finding plenty of leftovers in public parcs and along footpaths, their numbers are steadily increasing, and their droppings aren't good for the soil (at least not at a large amount), let alone a nuisance when people want to walk where they are, or rest on the grass.
ReplyDeleteSpotting a kingfisher really is a treat! I've only seen one once when we went visiting a stately home in Yorkshire; between the parking lot and the house we walked along a river, and there it was, darting about like a sparkling jewel.
PS: I now remember - it was at Nunnington Hall.
DeleteOh my! What a lot of geese. Our lake often (summertime mainly) has paths strewn with their droppings. A blog friend said that was why they decided against holding a wedding there. At one time there was a hired dog to chase the geese away daily. He'd even jump in the lake and swim after them!
ReplyDeleteGeese can be quite mean too!
ReplyDeleteWe have kept a few geese on several occasions but they always ended up being a problem. quite aggressive if nesting. And, as noted, green goose poo everywhere. Still, they are fascinating critters.
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