GANZENWERKGROEP NEDERLAND/BELGIË, (1991) Geese counts in The Netherlands and Belgium in 1988 / 1989. LIMOSA 64 (1): 7-15.

In this paper results are presented of the geese counts in The Netherlands and Belgium in the very mild winter of 1988 / 1989 (fig. 1-5, tab. 1-10). The total number of geese counted amounted to 781 000 in The Netherlands, and 34 000 in Belgium. Unprecedented peak numbers were recorded for Barnacle Goose (138 000 in November) and for Greylag Goose (82 000 in October). Numbers of Bean Geese (both fabalis and rossicus) were small, suggesting that relatively large numbers did not reach the Low Countries. A fairly large number of at least 23 000 Greylag Geese wintered in The Netherlands, of which about half was staying in the Verdronken Land vanSaeftinghe area in the southwestern part of the country, close to the DutchBelgian border. Simultaneous counts of Pink-footed Geese in Denmark, The Netherlands and Belgium in December showed that a total of at least 26 000 - 27 000 birds were present here. In January and February, only 7000 - 8000 Pinkfeet were counted. The Westeuropean population of the Black-bellied Brent Goose was estimated at 240 000 for the season 1988/89, of which 44 000 (18%) wintered along the Dutch coast, where 99 000 (41%) Brents were counted in May 1989. As usual in a mild winter, only a few Canada Geese were seen, with up to 126 birds in January, including some domestic birds. Some rare geese species were recorded. Most of the observations of Lesser White-fronted Geese concerned colour-marked birds from Sweden. Only three times an unringed bird was seen. At least 35 observations of Snow Geese were made (mainly one or two birds, once seven birds together). A family of two adults and three young was observed frequently on different locations between 1.12.88 and 16.2.89. The Redbreasted Goose was observed at least five times. Only one single observation of a Light-bellied Brent Goose was reported. ##### Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis Tundra Bean Goose Anser serrirostris Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Greylag Goose Anser anser Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla Canada Goose Branta canadensis Branta hutchinsii Black Brant # Brent Goose Branta nigricans # Branta bernicla nigricans Pale-bellied Brent Goose Branta hrota Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis Snow Goose Chen caerulescens Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus

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