Canada Goose
A common bird to the reservoir, using it primarily for roosting. Although seen throughout the year, the largest flocks seem to occur in autumn & winter. This species has bred at the reserve.
21/01/62 - 11 birds, seen again on 25/01. 8 birds remained until February
16/04/67 - 2 birds
12/03/70 - Single bird
07/05/70 - Single bird
13/03/76 - 5 birds
03/04/76 - Pair. Seen also the following day
1977 - Pair spent the summer but did not breed
08/12/91 - 38 birds
21/10/92 - Maximum count of 38 birds
16/11/93 - Maximum count of 140+ birds
28/01/94 - Maximum count of 52 birds
11/11/95 - Maximum count of 158 birds.
01/11/96 - Maximum count of 140 birds
21/06/97 - 80 birds
29/10/97 - Maximum count of 106 birds
1998 - Single pair bred & raised 4 goslings
28/10/98 - Maximum count of 76 birds
11/01/99 - 72 birds
27/10/99 - 138 birds
02/11/99 - Maximum count of 146 birds
04/10/00 - 59 birds
28/10/01 - 83 birds (up to 50 regularly through the year)
17/05/02 - pair with 5 young
12/10//03 - maximum of 103
19/10/04 - 29 birds maximum for year
28/09/05 - 36 birds maximum for year
03/11/06 - 95 birds
16/09/07 - 20 maximum for year
27/10/08 - 61 maximum count. Only recorded on 13 dates through the year, mainly ones or twos.
31/10/09 - 45 max count. Smaller numbers recorded on 29 dates
22/08/10 - 40 max count smaller numbers recorded on 12 dates
21/10/11 - 51, then 76 on 22/10 and max 78 on 23/10. mainly single figures on 24 other dates, but notably 45 on 25/12
2012 - Recorded on 25 dates. 10 or less apart from 16 on 31/07 and 13 on 03/01
2013 - Recorded on 44 dates mostly small numbers apart from 156 on 24/10, 187 (record count) on 25/10 and 119 on 04/11
2014 - Recorded on 37 dates mostly small numbers with max 56 on 28/09
2015 - Recorded on 25 dates, small numbers with max 29 on 26/10
2016 - Recorded on 46 dates, peak numbers in October with max 97 on on 27/10
2017 - Recorded on 73 dates, peak numbers in November with max 92 on 11/11. One dead bird seen in Jim's field on 26/02 and one with injured wing seen from 24th March, both presumed shot.
2018 - Recorded on 62 dates, mostly 5 or less, max 73 on 14/12
2019 - Recorded on 59 dates, many groups of under 20 with max of 53 on 09/10
2020 - Recorded on 99 dates, mostly 1-3 with max of 46 on 12/11
2021 - Recorded on 55dates. None from May until September. Up to 34 otherwise, plus max of c.50 on 01/01 and 51 on 09/02
2022 - Recorded on 67 dates. None from May to July. Often less than 50, but 142 on 25/10 and 64 on 09/10
2023 - Recorded on 66 dates, mostly in the spring and winter periods. Highest counts were 43 on 18/01, 48 on 21/01 and 35 on 13/10