Inland Migratory Tendancies in Ross's Goose [Anser feckingplasticus]

Headed over to Jubilee Pool for a mooch about after dinner this evening - the first time I'd dropped in there since early March I think. Anyway, the pool was all but dried up so not much of interest on there apart from a few Lapwings knocking about the edges and the massed ranks of Canada's which I ignored. I carried on with my route which I'll come back to in a moment, but on the return approach to the pool I could see up ahead Colin Green and Pete Asher watching and photographing something. Unbefeckingleivable - it was the same small white pile-o-shit I'd photographed yesterday (albeit more distant and looking much wilder as a result).

Wild Ross's Goose

Using a combination of Google Maps, weather charts, plastic ruler and finger in air, I have established that this diminutive herbivore has travelled an immense 7miles in a south-westerly migratory route that will have required following the wild River Soar through the concrete jungle of Leicester. However this is pure conjecture, and only ringing recoveries and perhaps satellite tagging will provide the real story of the migratory tendancies of this species.

The great south-westerly migratory route of Ross's Goose

Back to more mundane matters, in between arriving and chatting with Colin and Pete, I walked along the bank of the soar. Nothing of massive avian interest, apart from a few Swallows overhead, a Swift moving ahead of a squall, and best of all a juv Reed Warbler milling about in the reeds. The latter was way to skittish to get anything resembling a photo - I did manage one shot but it is too embarrassing to post even here.

Otherwise, I also found a load of Prickly Lettuce growing long the bank and a quick check on the first clump revealed - yes - more Small Ranunculus larvae. Common as muck round here you know.

Small Ranunculus

I also noted some of this growing in the river:

Amphibious Bistort

And lots of this along the river:

Common Reed

And the skies looked good too.