Wild Birds of Europe

[pcs]

Egyptian geese are becoming more and more numerous. Not that long ago it was rare. I recently saw 10 flying over the Westerschelde and these are from near the Oosterschelde, there were 12 in total and judging by their behaviour there will be more in the future.

 

[Jan1977]

Egyptian geese are becoming more and more numerous. Not that long ago it was rare. I recently saw 10 flying over the Westerschelde and these are from near the Oosterschelde, there were 12 in total and judging by their behaviour there will be more in the future.
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I see them quite regularly in my area, that I can't imagine they once were a rarity...

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

I see them quite regularly in my area, that I can't imagine they once were a rarity...

The Wiki says that Egyptian geese were introduced in the sixties (probably as escapees) and their numbers have grown ever since. And they have spread across Europe. I know that when I started shooting birds 15 years ago, I didn't see them all that often but now they seem more common. Or rather, I see them more often.

 

[JohnPD]

Egyptian geese are becoming more and more numerous. Not that long ago it was rare. I recently saw 10 flying over the Westerschelde and these are from near the Oosterschelde, there were 12 in total and judging by their behaviour there will be more in the future.
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Is that rivalry or courtship?

 

[pcs]

Is that rivalry or courtship?

I think rivalry, also seen(but no pictures) courtship, no wings and their heads/necks weave around each other.

 

[Jack Dawe]

Egyptian geese are becoming more and more numerous. Not that long ago it was rare. I recently saw 10 flying over the Westerschelde and these are from near the Oosterschelde, there were 12 in total and judging by their behaviour there will be more in the future.

They were introduced to Britain in the 1600s and expanded from there. These days they can be found anywhere in Briatin , but there is a particularly large feral population in East Anglia (Norfolk and Suffolk). From there it's only a short flight across the North Sea to the Netherlands, Belgium, etc., though I think Europe has had its own introductions.

 

[pcs]

I saw the first one maybe 15 years ago but this year it's the first time I've seen more than 2 together.

 

[sidknee]

great spotted woodpecker, female, one of three that have been visiting recently

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

great spotted woodpecker, female, one of three that have been visiting recently

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Beauty of a shot, Sid.

 

[JohnPD]

Egyptian geese are becoming more and more numerous. Not that long ago it was rare. I recently saw 10 flying over the Westerschelde and these are from near the Oosterschelde, there were 12 in total and judging by their behaviour there will be more in the future.
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Definitely a hostile encounter. I don't know anything about. birds, but look at his neck, those are hackles!