Odd One Out

Now that the snow has finally gone and temperatures have risen almost to double figures the stillwaters are finally starting to thaw. I wonder how the fish in the shallower ones have fared. 

During the bad weather I was not able to visit one of my favourite ponds so I was anxious to check on it and today I drove the hour or so to have a look. On arrival I was not too surprised to see it still partially covered with ice. In winter it is occupied by Mallards, Black-headed gulls and Canada geese but today amongst the ducks was a surprise - a Bar-headed goose. 

It seemed to be trying to blend in with the  Mallards but it wasn't difficult to spot the odd one out. I must say I thought it a very fine looking goose.

The pond does serve as a temporary home for various birds from time to time and I presume this goose will move on. I have no idea if it is an escapee or one of the few "feral" Bar-headed geese in the country but forgive me for not revealing the location.

I have known the pond for over 30 years but sadly I do feel I knew it at it's best and that was quite a few years ago. I used to spend all week at school/work dreaming of visiting but in recent years money has been spent on it and not wisely in my opinion. As a result of the removal of non-native plant species an ideal breeding ground for Canada geese was created and the council (who were left the pond as part of an estate) wasted tax payers money on an egg oiling project. Yes they want geese on the lake but they want Greylags so I fear for any other species! 

Nature has a habit of not doing what mankind wants and I am sure that it will run rings round this particular council and its attempts to control this area.

I live in hope that the council and local "friends of" group will run out of money and stop their meddling and this pond will return to what it was not too long ago - a place to dream about. Or maybe I am wrong and the goose was not alone in being the odd one out!