THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
RED-BREASTED GOOSE – Branta ruficollis
As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees
Red-breasted Geese breed in arctic Europe, often close to nests of large birds of prey, such as Peregrine Falcons, it is believe that it helps protect this small goose from predators such as Arctic Fox. The first British record was of a bird shot near London in the early part of 1776, possibly in the north Kent marshes, though the precise location is unknown. This specimen was passed to the Hancock Museum in Newcastle, where it was often mistakenly said to be a bird that was found later in the same year near Wycliffe-on-Tees in Yorkshire. This bird was kept alive on a small pond with Mallards becoming very attached to one of them before dying in 1785.
There has been one Red-breasted Goose reported from S. Gloucestershire, in;
1909: (1)
On November 18th an adult was ‘obtained’ at Oldbury-on-Severn. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species for S. Gloucestershire.