Last Goose Report

No more goose news after this, I promise. I’ve been out all day but when I returned this evening my neighbour had left a message on the answerphone. Apparently the RSPCA came today and saw the goose. They agreed with my neighbour that it was not in any discomfort and that in all likelihood the leg would heal. So all has ended well. Wanted to take a photo to illustrate this but unfortunately the heavens opened and it poured.

Being fair to the RSPCA

As it turns out, contrary to my report yesterday that the RSPCA had failed to show, apparently they had. About an hour ago I received a call from one of their representatives saying that a colleague had visited, unbeknown to me. She had reported back that she had seen the geese, too far out, and that a boat would be needed to investigate further.

When I explained that our ex-mill pond was only moderately sized, and that the geese were quite prepared to come ashore for bread, we agreed that she might have been at the wrong stretch of water. There is a reservoir a mile or so up the road and she may have been there.

Anyway, they are possibly going to visit tomorrow and have assured me that they will phone either my neighbour or me if they fail to find our pond.

Meanwhile all geese are continuing to eat heartily.

Update: Goose News

As my Twitters indicated, the RSPCA did not turn up yesterday, nor did they phone to give any explanation. More positively, my neighbour who actually owns the pond called to let me know she had returned from a weekend away and that the injured goose was safe and eating a hearty meal in her carport.
Tonight I went out to feed them and they were all there pretending to be ravenous (apparently the same neighbour feeds them regularly as do others - no wonder they’ve come back this year). Injured one remained in the water while the others got out to harrass me for bread. It remains to be seen whether the dicky leg recovers.

Injured Goose

For a second year we have geese residing on our mill pond through the summer. While certainly not tame, they are quite willing to accept a few crumbs and each year the parent, bolder than the others, has been prepared to take such food from the hand. As happened last year, a couple of nights ago one of them went missing. Whereas previously the bird had disappeared for good, this afternoon I arrived home to find that this year’s absentee had returned. Unfortunately, one of its legs was hanging uselessly, and it was only able to hop awkwardly.

After feeding them, I rang the RSPCA. I was reassured that someone would come to see what could be done but as today is Sunday, this might not happen til tomorrow. It could be a worrying night for us all, particularly the goose. Picture shows injured goose in the background.