Pale-bellied Brent Goose Branta (bernicla) hrota

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 Pale-bellied Brent Geese most often turn up among wintering Dark-bellied Brent Geese, but odd birds can also crop up among Pink-footed Goose flocks and I have occasionally seen small flocks of Pale-bellied Brent Geese passing by on seawatches in the autumn before the first Dark-bellied Brent Geese have appeared.

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

adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose (with Dark-bellied Brent Geese), Burnham Norton (Norfolk, UK), 13th March 2010

first-winter Pale-bellied Brent Gooe (with Dark-bellied Brent Geese), Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 13th February 2010

adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose (with Dark-bellied Brent Geese), Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 13th February 2010

adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose (same flock, different individual - again with Dark-bellied Brent Geese), Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 13th February 2010

first-winter Pale-bellied Brent Gooe (with Pink-footed Geese), between Fring and Shernborne (Norfolk, UK), 8th February 2014