4 Geese you will find around the coast of Ireland

1. Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

• Location in Ireland: Resident and winter visitor. Found in wetlands, lakes, estuaries, and grasslands throughout Ireland. I must often see them in Parklands with ponds!

• Seasonality: A mix of resident (breeding) birds and wintering migrants from Iceland. Numbers increase in autumn and winter.

• Diet: Grasses, aquatic plants, cereals, and roots. Often grazes in fields.

• ID Tips:

  • Bulky grey goose with a pale belly.

  • Orange or pink bill and pink legs.

  • Lacks the black neck of Canada Goose or the contrasting pattern of Barnacle Goose.

2. Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)

Mainly the Pale-bellied subspecies in Ireland

• Location in Ireland: Coastal estuaries, saltmarshes, and mudflats — especially in places like Strangford Lough, Dublin Bay, and Wexford Harbour.

• Seasonality: Winter visitor (October–April) from Arctic Canada and Greenland.

• Diet: Eelgrass, seaweed, saltmarsh plants. Will also graze on coastal fields in harsh weather.

• ID Tips:

  • Small, dumpy goose with a short neck.

  • Black head and neck with a white neck patch ("necklace").

  • Pale grey-brown body and white rump.

  • Much smaller than Canada Goose.

3. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

• Location in Ireland: Mostly feral (escaped from wildfowl centres and doing very well in the wild) populations around lakes, rivers, and parklands. Common in urban and suburban wetland areas.

• Seasonality: Resident, with introduced breeding populations in Ireland.

• Diet: Grasses, grains, aquatic vegetation. Grazes on land and feeds in water.

• ID Tips:

  • Large goose with a long black neck and head.

  • Bold white chinstrap (cheek patch).

  • Brown back and pale chest.

  • Larger and longer-necked than Brent or Barnacle Goose.

4. Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

• Location in Ireland: Coastal wetlands, estuaries, and fields — especially in the northwest (Donegal, Mayo), Wexford Slobs, and islands.

• Seasonality: Winter visitor (October–April) from Greenland.

• Diet: Grass, moss, and other low vegetation. Often feeds in coastal fields.

• ID Tips:

  • Compact goose with a black neck and white face.

  • Silver-grey back with black-and-white barring.

  • White belly and black legs.

  • Neater and paler than the darker, smaller Brent Goose.

For recording bird sightings, I recommend the eBird App. The Merlin Bird ID is also great for identification!