WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE

 

The largest flock of White-fronts recorded in the county was of 60-70 birds flying north-east over Hazel Grove on the 21st November 1988.

 

Both the European race (A.a.albifrons) and the Greenland race (A.a.flavirostris) have occurred in the county although the European race currently remains the rarest of the two but the frankly remarkable saga of the small wintering population of Greenland race birds at Hollingworth Lake can be read in full here.

1978   Longdendale 10th Dec A count of 30
1978   Pennington Flash 12th Dec 5 flew east
1979   Audenshaw Reservoir 23rd Feb 2 birds flying North
1979   Pennington Flash/Lightshaw 14-18th Nov Single Greenland bird in the area.
1983   Pennington Flash 31st Jan 3 birds flew over west
1984   Hollingworth Lake 14th Dec 17 over
1985   Rumworth Lodge 1st Dec 11 birds present
1987   Hollingworth Lake 12th Dec 58 birds flying south-west, two of these birds stayed until 14th, roosting on the lake
1987   Rumworth Lodge 6th Dec One was present with 100 Canada Geese
1988   Hazel Grove 21st Nov A skein of 60-70 birds flying NE
1991   Hollingworth Lake Nov-early 1992 atleast 2 Greenland race immatures
1993   Hollingworth Lake 2nd Jan Single Greenland race bird
1993   Elton Reservoir 13-24th Apr A single bird
1993   Pennington Flash 21st Nov-1st Dec 10 European race birds roosted, inc 2 juveniles
1993   Shell Carrington NR 29th Nov 14 adults
1994   Hope Carr NR 6th Mar A single bird
1994   Hollingworth Lake 27th October-23rd Jan 1995 A single Greenland race bird
1995   Doffer Fold Farm 2nd Dec-26th Feb 1996 7 European birds, west of Elton Reservoir
1995   Hollingworth Lake 15th Oct-year end atleast 2 Greenland race birds
1995   Pennington Flash 4th Dec 3 European race birds, 2 adults and a single juvenile, same as Rumworth record below
1995   Rumworth Lodge 1st Dec 3 European race birds, 2 adults and a single juvenile, same as Pennington Flash record above
1996   Pennington Flash 9th Jan 2 in a flock of 200+ Pink-footed Geese over
1996   Pennington Flash 13th Jan 2 in a flock of 200+ Pink-footed Geese over
1996   Hollingworth Lake present in late winter-6th April 1997 2 Greenland race birds
1997   Hollingworth Lake 22nd Oct-year end 6 Greenland race birds including 4 juveniles
1998   Hollingworth Lake 28th Oct-year end 2 Greenland race birds, including a neck collared and leg rung bird (DIH) on 28th Oct prompting a reassessment of all White-fronted Geese records in the area
1998   Pennington Flash 27th-31st Oct Single Greenland race
1999   Hollingworth Lake present until 21st April 5 Greenland race birds
2000   Ogden Reservoir 27th Nov-7th Dec and again 26th Jan 2001 Single Greenland race bird
2000   Hollingworth Lake 7th Dec- Apr 2001 Same Greenland race bird as Ogden Reservoir 2000
2000   Dunham Massey Nov 2 European race
2002   Hope Carr NR 6th Jan Single, not assigned to race
2002   Hollingworth Lake 5th Nov-8th Mar 2003 A Greenland race single bird
2003   Elton Reservoir 12th Jan Single, not assigned to race
2003   Greenbooth Reservoir 23rd Apr Single flew over 
2004   Hollingworth Lake 4th Nov-27th Apr 2005 Single bird
2006   Pennington Flash 26th Jan 2 European race birds