White-fronted Goose populations

WeBS treatment of White-fronted Goose populations:

  • Reports to 2010/11 - Greenland-White-fronted Goose & European White-fronted Goose.
  • Reports from 2011/12 - As above with the addition of  'unspecified' White-fronted Goose.

Detail:

Two subspecies of White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons winter in the UK, these being the European White-fronted Goose A.a.albifrons and the Greenland White-fronted Goose A.a.flavirostris.

In Britain, European White-fronted Goose winter mainly in the South and East of England although in recent winters records of this subspecies have been received from as far North as Orkney. Balmer et al. (2013) indicates them to be frequent in other parts of England with isolated records as far afield as Western Scotland.  The main wintering areas of the Greenland White-fronted Goose in the UK are in Northern Ireland and Western Scotland, particularly on Islay.  Balmer et al. (2013) indicates them to be frequent in other parts of Scotland and Northwest England.  A small flock of several hundred geese belonging to this subspecies have a long association with the Dyfi in Wales.

These two subspecies are readily distinguished in the field. Hence, all but a few records received by WeBS include determination to subspecies.

WeBS allocation of records for reporting purposes:

  • prior to 2011/12:
    • Greenland White-fronted Goose  : All records reported specifically as Greenland White-fronted Goose.  All unspecified records of White-fronted Goose from Scotland, West and North Wales, Northwest England and Northern Ireland.
    • European White-fronted Goose: All records reported specifically as European White-fronted Goose.  All records of unspecified White-fronted Goose from England and South Wales.
  • 2011/12 onwards:
    • European White-fronted Goose: All records reported specifically as European White-fronted Goose.  All unspecified records of White-frounted Geese from from the Severn Estuary and coastal counties of South and East England.
    • Greenland White-fronted Goose: All records reported specifically as Greenland White-fronted Goose.  All unspecified records of White-frounted Geese from Northern Ireland, North and West Scotland and the Dyfi in Wales not recorded to subspecies.
    • 'generic' White-fronted Goose (2011/12 onwards): All records of European White-fronted Goose, Greenland White-fronted Goose or birds for which the subspecies was not determined (of which there are very few).

WeBS reporting of annual trends:

  • Greenland White-fronted Goose: WeBS does not calculate annual trends for the Greenland population but rather reports trends derived from the annual winter census organised by the Greenland White-fronted Goose Study Group.  Monthly trends are derived from WeBS data.
  • European White-fronted Goose: Both annual and monthly trends are derived from WeBS data.

References:

Balmer, D.E., Gillings, S., Caffrey, B.J, Swanne, R.L., Downie, I.S. & Fuller, R.L. 2013 Bird Atlas 2007-11: the breeding and wintering birds of Britain and Ireland. BTO Books, Thetford.

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