GANZENWERKGROEP NEDERLAND/BELGIË, (1989) Geese counts in the Netherlands and Belgium in 1986 - 1987. LIMOSA 62 (2): 81-90.

In this paper the results of the geese counts in the Netherlands and Belgium in 1986/87 are given (fig. 1-4, tab. 110). Again it was a severe winter, which brought large numbers of geese to the wintering places in both countries, despite the 1986 poor breeding season for most species. Like the previous winter large numbers of Bean Geese were present. Taiga Bean Geese were mainly seen in the northeastern part of the Netherlands, whereas Tundra Bea~ Geese were found scattered all over the country and also III large numbers in Belgium. Peak numbers of Taiga Bean Geese amounted to 33 000 in February. Tundra Be~n Geese also peaked in February with 204 000 (of whIch only 500 birds in Belgium). Very large numbers of Pink-footed Geese were seen in December (at least 25 000 for both countries together). White-fronted Geese peaked at 432 000 (both countries together) in February, after a much smaller number (330000) was counted in January. In autumn, Greylag Geese were numerous in some haunts in the Netherlands, but many of them left the country already in the second half of October. So the peak number of Greylags (49000), counted on 1-2 November, was smaller than the actual peak for the season. In Belgium only small numbers of Greylag Geese were seen. In spite of the low reproduction in 1986, there were up to 90 000 Barnacles in the Netherlands during January' only 30 birds were seen in Belgium. Black-bellied Bren~ Geese (no juveniles) peaked at 62 000 in May. The major part of the population (53 000) was seen in the Waddensea area. Of the Light-bellied Brent Geese approximately 100 birds wintered in SW. Netherlands, only a few were seen III the Waddensea area. As a result of the severe cold in January and February a relatively large number of Canada Geese from the Scandinavian breeding population reached the Netherlands. ##### Greylag Goose Anser anser Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus = Anser fabalis brachyrhynchus Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Tundra Bean Goose Anser serrirostris Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis Pale-bellied Brent Goose Branta hrota = Branta bernicla hrota

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