Welcome To The Kingfisher Wildlife Diaries – John Bailey
June 3rd 2010
Recognizing the Egyptian Goose
It's not long ago that a holiday-maker asked me to identify an Egyptian goose. To him, it was just an ugly, scruffy-looking large duck! Personally, I think he was being a bit unfair. They look a little like a shell duck but are marginally larger. They have a pinkish bill and legs and the head and neck are pale apart from a dark patch in the eye and the collar. The breast and underneath of the bird is a brown colour with dark chestnut patches, particularly on the stomach. The back, again, is dark brown but occasionally greyish-brown inn some birds. 
I like them because within the UK, they have very much made Norfolk their own particular territory. They are rarely found far from water - hence the numbers up and down the Wensum valley - and they nest generally in old trees and stumps, often in old holes in the wood. They feed on reeds and permanent grassland but in the winter will feed on winter beet, sugar beet and potatoes.
But what's their history. They probably came to Norfolk via Africa sometime in the late 17th century. They were quite common in the 18th century too and became officially resident, as it were, in 1971 when Egyptian geese were placed on the British List.
They were first recorded in Norfolk in 1808 and in within fifty years there were large flocks at Blickling, Gunton and Holkham - none further than fifteen or twenty miles from Kingfisher here. And if you're into birding, all these locations are great places to go.
My favourite pair of Egyptians at Kingfishers have recently appeared with a single gosling. They tend to keep away from the swans but you will sometimes see them fairly close to the Canada geese.
So for me, attractive birds and a very welcome addition to the fantastic birdlife here at Kingfishers.