Mary, if you are not already aware, just thought you may like to know, the Egyptian Goose you observed in London is a regular in Essex. There are, apparently some 300 -400 pairs in East Anglia mainly, but I have seen them in Berkshire, all originate from introduced ornamental stock. Their range is Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley and are akin to the Shelduck.
The one pictured here was photographed at Hopping Bridge, The Walls, Mistley on the Stour and they are often found in the meadows between Dedham and Flatford and on Mistley Place Park where I have seen then roosting in the trees. They can also be found at Abberton Reservoir. They have bred in the area, two adults brought two goslings to Hopping Bridge last year, to where visitors feed the ducks, swans and geese.
Mistley Walls also had a pair of Black Swans who turned up with young last year but these seem to have disappeared.
The one pictured here was photographed at Hopping Bridge, The Walls, Mistley on the Stour and they are often found in the meadows between Dedham and Flatford and on Mistley Place Park where I have seen then roosting in the trees. They can also be found at Abberton Reservoir. They have bred in the area, two adults brought two goslings to Hopping Bridge last year, to where visitors feed the ducks, swans and geese.
Mistley Walls also had a pair of Black Swans who turned up with young last year but these seem to have disappeared.