Can you guess what it is yet???

[auditt]

Hi,

While out walking the dog this morning, on the old pony farm,Ray road, West Molesey, I saw a large bird flying towards me,it was not a swan, and not a canada goose..It was a goose of some sort..as it flew across the field it then banked right and I got to see the back of the goose then the underside...It looked very pale in colour almost white no distinct markings on the body or wings..When I looked at it I thought of that goose that makes a 'HONKING' sound when it calls..It's name really slips me....Honking goose..Something like that...Any suggestions..Did I see this breed of goose today?

Cheers...I hope not too many of you fell on the floor laughing!!!

Kind regards.

AudiTT............xx.

[andyjevs]

Heron ?????

[Chessman]

Heron sounds about right to me, not many large birds to choose from.

[burnhal]

A Heron is very distinctive and looks nothing like a goose in flight! Neck tucked back and slow laboured wingbeat.

If we are talking geese and its not a Canada then a Greylag is the first choice. White fronted and Pink Footed should be starting to drift in for the winter - these have no real distinguishing marks really in flight. Pink footed do a mean honking but I would expect to see more than one!! Likely a greylag methinks

[Cetti]

I know you said it wasn't a swan auditt , but could it have been a Whooper Swan as they make a honking, trumpeting kind of sound.

 I'm hesitating in saying it was a  Grey Heron as their call is a very harsh, croaking call - although I  would have said it was the likeliest supect being a solitary bird, unlike   geese and swan.

[Clanad]

Knowing nothing of the migration patterns in your corner of the world, I can only relate the evidence from here in the Central and Western Flyways of the U.S.  The first geese to migrate in large numbers, with the usual scouts out in front are the Snow Geese.  They are much smaller than the common Canada Goose and are almost all white (hence the name) but do all the other geese like things... Look here: http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/geese.htm