Photos

The Canada Goose, Branta canadensis, is also an inhabitant of the UK, and can often be seen swimming alongside ducks and swans on our rivers, lakes and ponds.

The birds mate for life with breeding time in early spring, a family of Canada geese stay together for several months before the offspring finally seperate from their parents.

Canada geese are quite tolerant to humans, particularly in the UK where they aren't hunted, but they are also fiercely protective of their young, so a shot like this doesn't come along too often, it's more a chance encounter than anything else, and I had to walk very slowly and quietly to get close enough to take the picture without disturbing th parents too much.

I love the way the young goslings appear to be wearing wellington boots, if you look at the one standing on the left you'll see what I mean.

This has to be one of my personal favourites of the wild bird collection I've made in the last couple of years.