THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
PALE BELLIED BRENT GOOSE – Branta bernicla hrota
As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees
Brent Goose is a goose of the genus Branta and is known in North America as Brant. The spelling 'Brant' is the original one with 'Brent' being a later folk-etymological idea that it was derived from a classical Greek water bird name 'brenthos'. It is in fact onomatopoeic, derived from the guttural call note of the species. For the origin of the scientific name 'bernicla', see Barnacle Goose. The scientific name 'hrota' comes from the Old Norse 'hroogas' and the Icelandic 'hrotgas' with a literal meaning of 'snoring goose' and is an impression of the birds call. Pale-bellied Brent Goose breeds in Franz Josef Land, Svalbard, Greenland and north-eastern Canada, wintering in Denmark, northeast England and Ireland.
There have been two Pale-bellied Brent Geese reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;
1995: (1)
On February 12th an adult in winter plumage was identified at Northwick Warth. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this form for S. Gloucestershire.
Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Northwick Warth. February 1995. © Rich Andrews.
2007: (1)
On January 25th one was found in the afternoon at New Passage, it was still present the following day January 26th.
Pale-bellied Brent Goose at New Passage. January 2007. © Paul Bowerman.