Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Anser ("goose") indicus ("of India")

Escapee Adult Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) at Thornham Harbour - November 2020

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2-3kg  /  Length: 68-78cm  /  Wingspan: 140-160cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A distinctive goose of Asia - it breeds on the high Tibetan plateau while Wintering in India. This migration also leads to one of it's other most noteworthy features - it is one of the most high flying of all bird species, crossing over the Himalayas of heights of around 6400m, with apocryphal stories of it being seen even higher. While there are feral populations in Europe, most if not all of the UK sightings of this bird are believed to be escapees from private collections, including this one seen associating with Greylag Geese in Norfolk. 

Related Species:

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae 

Genus: Anser

SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An escapee from pirvtae collections, possibly a feral breeder

 - A single bird associating with Greylags at Thornham Harbour

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis)

OTHER NAMES: Vampire Deer, Chinese Water Deer
Latin Etymology: Hydropotes ("water drinking") inermis ("unarmed")

Adult male Water Deer (subspecies Hydropotes inermis inermis) at Thornham Harbour - November 2020

Featured Subspecies: Hydropotes inermis inermis (Chinese Water Deer)
Weight: 9-14kg  /  Length: 77-100cm  
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

This small unusual deer species is native to China and Korea - it lacks any antlers at all, but is notable for it's large fang-like tusks, causing it to be classed as belonging to it's own subfamily with Cervidae. Despite it's native habitat of East Asia, it is notably seen in the UK; following escapee's from Woburn and Whipsnade a feral population has sprung uk in the East of England, and continuing to increase.

Related Species:
Order: Artiodactyla 
Family: Cervidae 
Genus: Hydropotes
SUBSPECIES: H. i. inermis, H. i. argyropus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An escapee from collections that has gone on to have a breeding population.

 - Two at Thornham Harbour

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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