The greylag

The greylag goose (Anser anser) is the species from which most farmyard geese species have been bred. Alongside the Canada goose it is the most familiar wild (semi-wild?) goose, often being found on town and city park ponds as well as on more remote stretches of water. The British population of this goose is augmented by a winter influx of many tens of thousands more. The "lag" part of the bird's name is of great antiquity and means "goose". Hence that word is technically superfluous when referring to the bird.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Greylag Geese

The greylag goose, a species found across Europe and Asia, is probably the second most common wild goose seen in Britain after the introduced Canada goose. Like the Canadian species the greylag is very tolerant of people and can be found in urban parks as well as in open countryside. It is thought that the greylag was one of the first wild species to be domesticated by man, over 3,000 years ago, and today's domestic geese often interbreed with it. At lease one pair successfully hatched young on Cannop Ponds in the Forest of Dean this year where this very obliging group was photographed.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2