Startmount Goose

Starmount Lodge - 15.06.2025

Not so long back there was an unusual siting on a local park lake of a Red-breasted Goose likely an escapee, twelve months later another unusual appearance this time a Brent Goose more likely seen on a salt marsh again hanging out with Canada's on another local lake, or lodge as they call them in these parts.

Dark breasted Brent Geese breed in Russia, Western Siberia wintering in Western Europe and generally the east side of the UK so a little out of normal range. Recent geese sittings that have enjoyed the local hospitality have been a Pink-foot at Birtle (plenty of fly overs) a Red-breated Goose at Haywood and now a Brent Goose at Little Lever all within five miles travel distance, so with this new unusual turn up it's off for some images.

The last time I was at Starmount Lodge was probably about twenty years ago as a rescue diver on a New Year's Day swim one of the funniest events I've ever witnessed, all the yelps and screams from revellers that thought a cold water dip was a good idea to kick off the new year...bonkers !

It's around eight thirty am the light pretty good, so with the sun behind to get some colour in the water I make my way to where the geese are just milling around in the corner of the lodge. Local fishermen start to arrive and the geese get active moving where I just want then, then a Mute Swan take exception to some goslings and pandemonium breaks out, the Brent Goose takes to the air and I'm thinking it's off surprisingly only to circle and land back on the water.

Now with many walkers along with their dogs the geese head to the middle of the lodge and with a overcast sky and deteriorating light time to call time.

19.06.2025....Visit to Bolton, called in on way, no longer present with Canada's on lodge.

Brent Goose