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page.Greylag Goose
Anser anser
Greylag, the ancestors of all domestic geese, breed in Iceland, western Scotland, Norway, Denmark and southeastern Europe. The main wintering grounds are northeastern Scotland and England and stretches of the western European coast in Holland, Belgium, France and Spain. Sites selected for nesting are large, still expanses of water, lakes and ponds with old reed beds, swamps, small islets by the seashore, flooded riverine woodlands but above all places with extensive meadows nearby. Greylag geese pair for life. On their return from their winter quarters they usually establish themselves in the same nesting territory as the year before. The nest, built by the female alone, may be located on dry as well as marshy ground or even in a willow. Nests on islets may be in quite open situations. Material for the nest is gathered in the immediate vicinity, and there is a thick lining made from down. As a rule, the goose lays four to nine eggs, which she incubates alone for 27 to 30 days while the gander keeps guard close by. Both parents care for the newly hatched goslings, which are capable of flight at 57 days but remain in the company of their parents, individual families then joining to form large flocks. The diet consists mostly of the green parts of plants and various seeds. Goslings feed themselves, starting with the tenderest leaves.
Click on any of the other bird links, these are Geese Barnacle Goose : Brent Goose : Canada Goose : Greylag Goose
Or on the Ducks: Gadwall : Goldeneye : Goosander : Mallard : Pintail : Pochard : Red Breasted Merganser
Red Crested Pochard : Shellduck : Shoveler : Teal : Tufted Duck : Wigeon
And the rest, in no real order of importance: Common Sandpiper : Coot. : Corncrake : Curlew. : Dunlin : Greenshank : Lapwing : Moorhen : Oystercatcher : Redshank : Ringed Plover : Snipe : Spotted Crake : Stone Curlew : Turnstone : Whimbrel : Woodcock.
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