It’s been one the mildest winters on record so far and though this image was taken in late Autumn, the scene would not be so very different today - the very last of the year and temperatures hitting nearly 60F. This is Anser anser, the forerunning relative of the domesticated farmyard goose that makes the sixth gift for Christmas.
Answering to the name of Greylag, the goose-or-gander is formidable when it struts its stuff and recognisable by its bulk, eponymous colour and pink legs. I’m wondering if this one’s feet are more orange because it’s cold paddling in the Serpentine at St James’ or if there is some hybridisation here with Canada geese. These park and reservoir residents do intermingle! They are also semi tame and with a plentiful supply of water, grassland and visitors bringing food are more-or-less layabouts, from one end of the year to the next.
Their wild relatives on the other hand migrate and an estimated 100,000 Greylags leave the Icelandic breeding grounds in October to spend 6 months in the UK, being found generation after generation on the same overwintering sites from north of the Solway to Scotland.
(photo -Getty) Point of lay geese at happychicks.co.uk
The sixth day of Christmas is too early even for farmyard geese to be egg producing but the gift of birds ‘at point of lay’ would be most welcome. “Six geese a laying” means that with seasonal tradition they’ll be producing the first fresh eggs around Valentine’s Day. A true love’s gift indeed for Christmas and six birds will cost about £150 – something else for my wish list.
Meanwhile I wish all my fellow bloggers
a very Happy New Year and see you back here in 2012
and do look in on Diana’s festive dozen meme for the 6th Day of Christmas
That’s an impressive photo of the Greylag. Our hens will start to lay again at the same time as the Farmyard geese. It can’t come soon enough.
Enjoy your Mojito, Laura, Look forward to reading your blog in 2012.
Janet at Planticru Notes read my post..Hogmanay in Scotland
- tx Janet,rather proud of this greylag & was saving for a watery wednesday but the 6th day is most apt. Popping by to ‘see’ you in 2012.
Lovely image Laura…..they are gorgeous aren’t they.
My grandmother kept geese and I have a soft spot for them. I used to wander into their pen, much to the distress of my mother….I was only four at the time.
I never suffered an attack, I think they knew I was not afraid of them
Would I be that brave now I wonder…..probably!!
yes I can visualise you as a goose girl Cheryl
Enjoying your Twelvetide posts Laura. Sat with the living window open on Boxing Day until 5.00pm and I have a rose still in flower today ! May the new year treat you and those that you love kindly xxx
Anna read my post..The In Between Time
It is so mild here in Wales. I was in London on Wednesday and it was so warm in all the shops and museums because they had their heating on full and I had a warm coat on. I spent the day sweltering.
A couple of Greylag geese have taken up residence on a roundabout near us. There is a bird reserve a couple of miles away but they don’t seem interested in that.
I hope you have a very Happy New Year and I look forward to reading your blog in 2012.
wellywoman read my post..Happy New Year!
can tell I’m from London (or is it Lundun) the first park I thought of when I saw your photo was St James, I haven’t been there for more than a decade, the greylag geese I see now fend for themselves in all our wild weather, they shout at me from the field across the burn(river) when I walk up to post a letter or visit the shop and post office, so different, I still sometimes pinch myself that I really live here and am not just dreaming,
thanks for your comments on my blog Laura, wishing you a very happy new year and all the best for 2012, Frances
Island Threads read my post..end of year view
just think how many miles your greylags have flown whereas us Lunduners just stay put
oh wouldn’t it be nice to have wings and fly………. sigh………..
Island Threads read my post..end of year view
Such beautiful creatures! No mention of the pot? Some of the geese around here are cranky divils and usually end up there! Happiest of New Years to you and have a creative and fruitful harvest in 2012:~)
all I was thinking of, was laying about. Goose eggs didn’t feature in my life. Perhaps the orange feet are just seen thru a glass darkly, and ‘warped by greenish water’?
Happy New Year!
Elephant’s Eye read my post..The Sixth Day of Christmas
Happy New Year Laura!!
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..Third Day of Christmas
That is a pretty bird. Happy New Year to you and I enjoyed the info you posted on the geese. I find the kinda fascinating as birds go. They seem boring, but really they are not.
Donna read my post..Geese Gotta Get Going
Your goose photo is wonderful!
Happy New Year!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie read my post..Shadow Shot Sunday January 1 2012
That is a beautiful photo. It always amazes me how clean ducks and geese appear.
b-a-g read my post..Year-End Review (27 DEC 2011)
many thanks everyone for dropping by with your New Year wishes and these I return with visits to your blogs in 2012
- the future looks rosy for you Anna
- squatting a roundabout as nest site maybe WW?
- keeping quiet about the pot FL!
- idle southerners Diana
- thank you and welcome Lea
- could be the aquatic life b-a-g.