During the fall (and spring!) if you go for a walk along the Lake Ontario waterfront you are almost guaranteed to see a large flock of Canada Geese. Some of these geese have become year-round residents that enjoy feeding on the lawn grass and retreating to the Lake for security. If you keep an eye on the fall flock, however, you may be fortunate enough to spot a very small goose with a black head, black neck, black chest and the same dun colouring on the sides as a Canada Goose.
A Brant at the Foot of Brant Street
I was fortunate enough to see one of these small dark geese at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario. I found it amusing that the park was at the foot of Brant Street since the type of goose is also a Brant.
This small Canada Goose is only about 15 cm in front of the Brant.
Brant are bigger than a mallard but noticeably smaller than a Canada Goose. They breed in the high Arctic and usually winter along the Pacific and Atlantic ocean coasts. A few stop by for a visit along the Great Lakes but usually continue on to join the others at the shore.
I found it surprising that very little is reported about Brant on sites such as the Cornell University AllAboutBirds website. The lack of text suggests to me that we should be observing these birds when we can as there may be more to learn.
It appears that Brant may have white eyelids like Canada Geese, which makes them look alert even when their eyes are shut.
A Little Bit Lonely
I watched this particular Brant for about half an hour. During that time, it swam steadily away from a large flock of Canada Geese, then flew to join another large flock at the opposite end of the park. Restlessly, it immediately swam back towards the first set.
The entire time it was swimming, it kept looking in each direction and even appeared to be trying to listen. It would stop from time to time and turn sideways to check the other directions carefully.
It could be only my imagination but the bird gave the definite impression that it was searching for other Brant. If so, I hope it finds some friends soon.
Another Goose on the Grass
Like the Canada Geese, this Brant fed while I was there on the park’s short lawn grass. I sincerely hope that the grass is not treated with any pesticides or herbicides but I’m not familiar with the park policies for Burlington.
Keep Your Eyes Out for Odd Ducks
If you like to stroll along the Lake shore in autumn, perhaps to admire the turning leaves, keep your eyes on the waterfowl. You may find a Brant or two, too!
Related Reading
- What White Goose is Leading This Flock of Canada Geese?
- Who Needs a Lawnmower Near Oakville’s Waterfront?
Join In
Have you seen a Brant or a Snow Goose among a flock of migrating Canada Geese? Please share your sighting with a comment.
I see these Brant Geese among the Canada Geese that land on the fields in the Central Experimental Farm here in Ottawa, and have always wondered what they were! Thanks.
Cool! You may get some Snow Geese, too, as the big flocks of those migrate through. It’s worth keeping an eye on the Canadas in the spring and fall for the unexpected.
I live in mass and there are I’d say 85 of them on the Plymouth shore in a park eating grass!
That must have been quite a sight!
I Live in New York City and we have a flock of Brant geese here in Flushing Queens at the Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadow Park. There is about 20 of them.
Cool! Thanks for sharing your sighting!
I also watched a small black duck goose like creature marching across our backyard in a rainstorm. I’ve never seen anything like it so it was a treat. I live in central Ohio. And it is August
Thanks for sharing your sighting!
We’ve had a single brant hanging out in the midst of a large flock of Canada geese here (lower New York state) for several weeks now. These particular Canada geese are probably not migratory, as we have them in the area year-round.
Cool–thanks for sharing your find!
We were very surprised to see a rather large group of what appeared to be Brant geese in Oyster Bays TR Park last night around 6:30 pm. There were 20-30 of them walking in the park. Stayed close together and walked in unison in what ever direction they moved.
There have been reports of Brant in Oyster Bay in March 2018 on eBird. Thanks for sharing your sighting, too!
https://ebird.org/map/brant?neg=true&env.minX=&env.minY=&env.maxX=&env.maxY=&zh=false&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=3-5&bmo=3&emo=5&yr=cur
(If desired, click to follow then link, then type Oyster Bay and select NY, USA to see local sightings in March 2018.)
One of these Brant geese has been grazing, totally alone, across the street from my house by the river for a few days now. At first I mistook it for a goose but am now thankful to know what it is. It definitely seems out of place for this late in the year and I was wondering if it lost it’s flock. It’s only marginally shy and let me get pretty close. Cool to see a species I haven’t seen before!
Usually these lone Brants do okay and eventually end up back with a flock. It must be interesting to see one so close, so often!
Just spotted a large flock along the coast in Coney Island New York. First time for me so had to google them lol.
From what I’ve read, I think they like to winter along the coast. I’m glad you took the time to look them up and share your sighting!
I don’t know what goose or duck we saw but it was hanging around with some Canadian Geese for several days at our local cemetery. It was about 3/4 the size of the geese and was all black as near as we could tell. The feet and beak were darkish yellow.
It’s possible it was a Brant but there are also some odd ones that are cross-breeds between escaped domestic geese and wild geese. Sounds interesting though!
Here in Ferndale, Washington, we have had large flocks of these Brant Geese (they are almost all black) living in small ponds interspersed amidst acreages. We are about 5 miles from the Puget Sound. I would say the flock is roughly 150 birds. They have a different sound than the Canada Geese who frequent this area. It is almost a chirp sound. They only arrived this fall for the first time and seem to like it here.
I think people around here would faint if they had a flock of 150 Brant land! I hope they stayed for a while!