Greylag Goose, Lough Gill, 10th December 2014 (M.O'Clery).
Greylag Goose with Whooper Swan, Lough Gill, 10th December 2014 (M.O'Clery).
Although overshadowed by the two quality rarities at Lough Gill at the moment (American Coot and Lesser Scaup), this Greylag Goose at Lough Gill today, present since 6th November, is a pretty scarce bird in Kerry. Sightings of this species also have to overcome the shadow of suspicion of having escaped from wildfowl collections, or having straggled from a nearby feral population from e.g., Limerick or central Cork.
However, this individual, and most others which occur in Kerry in winter - such as the occasional small flock at the Cashen and individuals elsewhere - are often very wary and would, superficially at least, seem to be of wild stock.
