One of two vagrant Ross’s Geese wintering in Belgium has been traced again to its Canadian Arctic breeding grounds because of native birders managing to learn the ring it’s sporting.
Ross’s Goose breeds in northern Canada, wintering within the south-west United States and northern Mexico, and is an especially uncommon vagrant to Europe. Incredibly, two birds have been tracked all through Europe this winter after they have been first seen in Levanger, Norway, from 16 September-4 October 2023.
The two Ross’s Geese in Belgium in November 2023 (Patrick Beirens).
The two birds, considered one of which bears a metallic ring, have been then famous in Denmark on 7 October and at Den Haag, the Netherlands, the next day as they headed south. On 9 October, each birds have been on the polders round Klemskerke and Vlissegem in Belgium, the place they’ve remained since, usually within the affiliation of Greater White-fronted or Pink-footed Geese.
The ring was confirmed as one used on Nunavut breeding grounds, proving the chicken to be of untamed origin. However, solely just lately has the precise code been learn – ‘2127-23516’ – which has allowed the chicken to be traced again to the place and when it was ringed – on 7 August 2017 in Cambridge Bay. The ringed chicken is a male and it’s assumed that the Ross’s Goose accompanying it’s its feminine mate.
A collage detailing the observations of the Ross’s Geese (by way of @davybosman on X).
