Pacific or Black  Brent Goose (Branta bernicla nigricans)

I have had a really enjoyable day today even though it could have been better given just  a bit more luck. I had a phone call from my birding mates at just gone 11 to tell me to hurry to Darts Farm because the Penduline Tits (that have been around for the last week or so), were showing really well, close to the hide on the reed mace…..that's bullrush to you and me!  I got there as quick as I could only to miss them by a minute or two!  Davem Stone took  great photos which you can see on his blog here.  But in spite of that slight disappointment, I finally latched on to the Black Brant Goose (Branta bernicla nigricens) that's been here for several weeks as well.  At one point the entire flock of overwintering Brent Geese (Branta bernicla) was stretched out in front of us in the meadow, quite a sight with around 500, or maybe even more. They reminded me of the grazing herds of the Serengeti. 
Black bellied Brent Geese (thats the usual Brent Goose species,  breed in Northern Russia  and spend the winter in suitable estuaries in Southern England and East Anglia.  They are a small goose with a contrasting white neck band that is incomplete on the throat. The Black Brant however, which is a sub-species,  is a slightly larger bird with whiter flanks and a neck ring that is complete. It seemed today  as though this bird was also much darker on the neck and head which is probable why it's called a Black Brant.  The neck ring, as well as being complete, was also larger and more defined.  Black Brant , or Pacific Black Brant  breed in Alaska and overwinter in California with most of them wintering  around Baja California in Northern Mexico.  So having a Pacific Black Brant amongst the massive flocks of our  "usual" Brent is quite an event really. 

So, on this picture can you see the neck band that is like an expensive  necklace and goes around  on to the throat, unlike the normal Brent Geese that we are familiar with where the neck band does not extend on to the throat.  Also look at the white, brown edged, flank feathers which are much darker in the normal Black bellied Brent.

Compare the two species below, quite obvious differences….Black – belied Brent on the left and Pacific Black Brant on the right. Incidentally this is the first photograph of this species for me and I have added it to my gallery of  Devon Birds  which now number 213 species.