Another headache It's quite easy to tell with an experienced eye in good light. I once accompanied a school visit to Slimbridge at this time of year, we sat in the Holden Tower and watched a flock of around 5000 white-fronts covering most of a large field: my 15 year-old guide easily picked out 2 lesser white-fronts and a bean goose. I hadn't a clue.
The lesser is smaller with rather rounder proportions, finer barring on the breast, proportionately more white on the forehead and a more prominent yellow eye ring. I reckon that the bird on the left is a common white-front and the birds in the centre are probably the same, but cunningly posing to make it impossible for us to be certain.
Certainly an interesting problem. The signage at the site listed Lesser White-Fronted but I'd imagine it's quite outdated at this point. I have another photo where the center has its head turned but the eye is conveniently blocked by the leaves...
@ThylacineAlive The nominate race of the white-front has a pink bill, like the lesser: the Greenland race has an orange-yellow bill, but I think it's much less common in captivity. While I accept that my learned friend Maguari has a point, I would still say that common white-front, nominate race, is the best bet.
I'm presuming these are in the fenced of area by the bridge/cafe, and not on the main lake?
I was referring to Pinkfeet being preponderant(of Grey geese that is) on the main lake( though I could be wrong there.) Agree with others these are difficult because of the angles. The bird on the left doesn't have a noticeable eye ring so maybe an 'ordinary' Whitefronted Goose? The other two look similar in size to it whereas Lesser is quite a bit smaller.
I remember it being by a bridge, yeah. Basically the water loops around an island and then I believe there's a breeding area that's blocked from public view. I didn't realize there was more to the collection than this area tbh.
@ThylacineAlive The area by the bridge contains all the more 'valuable' pinioned birds- ducks and geese, and is cordoned off from the main Regents Park Lake which contains just the free-flying tougher species- Canadas, Egyptians, Swans, Pinkfeet(?) Mallard etc.
