Dutch Birding volume 26 (2004) no 2

Breeding attempt of Ross's Goose at Haringvliet in 2003

During 2000-02, a white-morph Ross's Goose Anser rossii was regularly observed on islands in the western part of the Haringvliet, Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands, in spring. It was always in the company of a small non-breeding flock of Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis, loosely associated with locally breeding Barnacle Geese. The last observation dates in spring during these years were 31 May 2000, 1 June 2001 and 14 June 2002. On 19 May and 2 June 2003, a female Ross's Goose was found breeding on a nest containing five eggs at the island Slijkplaat, Hellevoetsluis, Zuid-Holland, in a breeding colony of 536 pairs of Barnacle Geese. On 18 June, the nest appeared abandoned, and no Ross's Goose was observed subsequently. The bird appeared to be unpaired and the eggs were probably infertile.

Peter L Meininger, Rijksinstituut voor Kust en Zee, Postbus 8039, 4330 EA Middelburg, Nederland
(P.L.Meiningerrikz.rws.minvenw.nl)