Greylag Geese ( Anser anser )

We had been out to the tip recycling centre to get rid of the Wisteria prunings I had brought down from Edinburgh because of the "bin men's" strikes.  On the way back I spotted a field with lots of Greylag in.  Well given an opportunity like that you just have to blip it.  Greylag in numbers aren't a terribly common sight near the village.  This is part of the nearest group.

Greylag as a species has been increasing since the mid 1990s, particularly in England.  In England, there are now about four times as many as there were in the mid 90s.  They are now found in almost all tetrads north of a line between Anglesey and the Isle of Wight.  A large bird with a fairly long life, on average 8 years with the oldest on record 19 years 7months 4 days.