The Mother of all Geese

Greylag Geese on the Isle of Mull Scotland

Happy Wild Bird Wednesday :0)

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The Greylag Goose (Anser anser) is believed to be the ancestor of most modern day domestic Geese. It is the largest of the native UK and European native Geese and, to my eye, it is very similar in size to a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).
This beautiful bird is officially classed as amber status in the UK, meaning moderate cause for concern for the population numbers.
In the South of England release of birds has been on going for a number of years to help re-establish their population with some success, but the population found in Scotland are from the original native stock and retain more of the natural behaviors of true wild birds.
This was taken on the Isle of Mull, the second largest of the “Inner Hebrides” off the West Coast of Scotland.
Another first for me on a really rather wonderful trip to magical Mull :0)

Shot with the my trusty Canon 100-400mm f/4.8-5.6 L lens wide open on the Canon 7D to get the shallow depth of field to give the soft focus bokeh of the 2 Geese in the background

Pelican portrait 2

Pelican portrait 2

I make no apologies for another shot of this fascinating bird – when you find an accommodating pelican, you really do have to make the most of the opportunity ;-). The angle of the shot gives you a view of the subtle blue in the sea of yellow surrounding the eye. In breeding season this become a dramatic large dark blue and gives the comical clown like appearance I mentioned in my earlier Pelican portrait. The Australian Pelican is not pretty in everyone’s books, but few would argue that they are dramatic and eye-catching and you will never forget your first encounter with them