 Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on January 20th 2023. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on January 20th 2023. (© David Hastings) (1/500th sec at f/8. Click image for larger version)  Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on December 9th 2020.
Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on December 9th 2020.
(© David Hastings) (1/400th sec at f10. Click image for larger version) Description L: 58 - 70 cm; WS: 120 - 142 cm A medium-sized, sociable goose, with black head, neck and breast with creamy-white face, which contrasts with the white belly, blue-grey barred back and black tail. It breeds colonially on Arctic islands and coasts, and also found on islands and shores in the Baltic. Low tundra near sea coasts is its preferred habitat. Birds migrate to the British Isles and NW Europe for the winter. The Barnacle Goose is classed as Amber status on the UK list. Sightings | 06-Oct-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (40) | | 05-Sep-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 29-Aug-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (c.20) | | 28-Mar-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (26) | | 29-Jan-2025 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Jan-2025 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | |
| | 20-Sep-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 31-Jan-2024 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | |
| | 07-Nov-2023 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | | | 18-Aug-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 04-Apr-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (28+) | | 20-Jan-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (33) | | 19-Jan-2023 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (30+) |
| | 05-Apr-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (28) | | 28-Mar-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 23-Feb-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (28) |
| | 09-Dec-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 25-Nov-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (6) | | 14-Nov-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (4) | | 28-Oct-2021 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (c.150) | | 15-Sep-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (29) | | 20-Aug-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (29) | | 18-Apr-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 14-Apr-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (9) | | 31-Mar-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Feb-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (34) | | 17-Jan-2021 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (6+) |
| | 09-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (32) | | 05-Sep-2020 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 19-May-2020 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Mar-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (26) | | 27-Feb-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (23) |
| | 04-Oct-2019 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) | | 19-Sep-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (22) | | 29-Aug-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 23-May-2019 | : | Waulkmill, Aberdeenshire | (1) | | 18-Apr-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 24-Mar-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 05-Mar-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 23-Feb-2019 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 11-Feb-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 17-Jan-2019 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (200+) | | 03-Jan-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 10-Oct-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 01-May-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Jan-2018 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (189) |
| | 03-Oct-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 30-Apr-2016 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 29-Oct-2013 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (100+) |
| | 11-Nov-2011 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | |
| | 27-Oct-2006 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | |
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