Sunday 27 November 2011

What`s the Anser?

The window of opportunity has been firmly closed just lately, what with the winter nights drawing in earlier and earlier and work being constrained to the few daylight hours we have got in the U.K. at this time of year. Because of this I have been unable to catch up with the long-staying European White-fronted Goose that has been at Ferry Meadows CP for the past week. On Saturday this window was slightly ajar and so I made the trip to the cereal field close to the Nene Valley Railway line where this goose was known to be residing along with a flock of 70 ish Greylag Geese.

The bird was present and seemed to be quite content with feeding amongst its` larger cousins, but the peace was to be shattered with the arrival of an out of control Airedale terrier! The dog bounded across the field intent on getting to the flock of geese, which quickly flew off, with its owners frantically calling the `out of control` animal. On passing me they apologised, saying that he always does that sort of thing! Now, I am an animal lover, indeed Lisa`s job is looking after people`s dogs, but why, if you cannot control your dog do you not walk it on a lead? I only ask, because this incident beggared belief.








This bird represents number 169 for the year in the PBC area, a paltry number when you consider the species that have been seen this year, but I have been either away, or unable to get away from work when these other birds have been seen and they have not lingered. Hopefully, I will reach 170, but time is against me.

The White-fronted goose is the most common European goose, with over 36,000 wintering in Britain and Ireland. They tend to spend the winter in the south of England ( East Anglia and Kent ) and the west, particularly the Severn and Swale estuaries. There are two races of this goose, the European one (the one at Ferry Meadows) and the Greenland race, which tend to winter around Wexford in Ireland.

16 comments:

  1. There really do seem to be a lot of brain dead dog walkers about these days. Some time ago I was walking Bobby, on his lead, down our lane when a Jack Russell came hurtling at us. I had a few sharp words with the owner who tried to maintain that his dog was under control. He didn't even call to it! I don't let Bobby bother other people, or animals, and I expect the same consideration from others. Fortunately I've not seen that IQ zero again.

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  2. HI John...Smaller and white faced , but seems to have been befriended by the flock ...nice you got to get the photo's!
    I love the "he always does that sort of thing" then why apologise ...just put the dog on a lead so he doesn't..daaaa!!! lol some people ; }
    Hope you get the count you want for the year!!

    Grace
    PS what was the question..lol!!

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  3. Well John you would think that, "If he is always doing that sort of thing",
    why did they not have better control of the dog in the first.
    I'm afraid there are quite a few idiot dog owners around.
    At least you got to see the "Personality" of the week. Good shots.

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  4. Nice contrast of the White Fronted and Greylags John. Nice set of shots.
    I am an animal lover of course but some dog owners make you dispair.
    Thanks for the info about the races.
    Mike

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  5. Beautiful photographs, as always. The dog-off-the-lead incident you describe is all too common, and exceedingly frustrating. It's hard to know what to do when the person apologizes without any awareness of "what's wrong with this picture." We have a wonderful Audubon Sanctuary here with signs clearly stating "no dogs." Yet it has become a popular dog walk. I recently had to explain to two friends walking with me in the Sanctuary, after they stopped to admire someone's dog that, unfortunately, when the dogs come, the birds flee. Good people though they are, it hadn't occurred to them before that this might be a problem.

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  6. A nice post to read John..
    Great title I think that went over a few heads.
    Dogs are fine it's the people that own them that frustrate.

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  7. Hi John,
    I seem to see this an awful lot, owners of dogs thinking that they are above anything! I have been growled at, barked at and one of the reasons given by an owner was the fact I was wearing a hat and their precious dog doesn`t like hats! I ask you!
    J

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  8. Hi Grace,
    Thankyou, yes, you would think if they knew about it they would stop the dog doing it!
    Hopefully, I will manage to get to 170, only got a month left though!
    J

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  9. Hi Roy,
    Thankyou, finally `bagged` it!
    There are some good dog walkers out there, my wife Lisa, for example! ;)
    J

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  10. Hi Mike,
    Thankyou, yes it does give a good view of the differences.
    J

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  11. Hi Susan,
    Thankyou. There is a little reserve that I often visit called Maxey gravel pits, where there are signs everywhere asking owners of dogs to keep their animal(s) on a lead, but do you think that these signs are obeyed?
    J

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  12. Hi Andrew,
    Thankyou. It is the owners that are the problem. Some of them do seem to think that their pride and joy has the right to do whatever it wants. Don`t get me wrong, I grew up with dogs as pets, my parents still own a dog, as do my brother and a couple of my cousins, but they do keep their animals under control.
    J

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  13. The White-fronted Goose is very beautiful, you're findings are worth a lot. Brilliant photos.

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  14. Thanks Bob,
    Yes, it is much more than `just` a grey goose!
    J

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  15. Hello John, Your photography makes any bird (or living thing) look like the perfection of its species!
    Regretfully, dog owners have a responsibility towards other people and animals which they often disregard.
    Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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  16. Hi bazza,
    You are far too kind about my humble efforts!
    Agree wholeheartedly with what you say about dog owners. The vast majority are good owners who control their pets, the others just think their little darlings can do anything they like!
    J

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