Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta (bernicla) bernicla

The IOC World Bird List currently (version 11.2, 2021) treats all the Brent Geese (Brants) as a single species but some authorities have separated Dark-bellied Brent Goose (nominate bernicla), Pale-bellied Brent Goose (or Atlantic Brant, hrota) and Black Brant (nigricans) as distinct species.

Here in Norfolk Dark-bellied Brent Goose is the common form but the other taxa all occur here in small numbers or rarely.

Just a few photos here for now - I have many more to add in due course...

adult Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Brancaster Staithe (Norfolk, UK), 7th March 2007

adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Burnham Overy (Norfolk, UK), 16th February 2013

Photographed on the same day one of these two young birds already shows a white neck-collar and white flank markings while the other lacks these completely.

first-winter Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Burnham Overy (Norfolk, UK), 20th November 2004

adult Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Wells (Norfolk, UK), 14th February 2012