GOOSE: tough harbinger of a drop in temperature

SMALLER and less elegant than swans, wild geese are nevertheless just as hardy and have come to symbolise the approach of bitter winter.

Able to thrive in freezing temperatures, geese are equipped with powerful wings, strong legs, and tough beaks to root out food.

Their diet covers a wide selection of vegetarian fayre, ranging from water plants and algae to seeds, grass and crops.

About seven species of wild geese have either settled in this country or regularly migrate here.

Biggest and most recognisable with its black and white head is the Canada goose.

This can actually seem quite tame compared to the truly wild flocks still found in its native land.

Introduced to Britain in the 17th century, Canada geese are now a common sight on lakes and ponds.

So comfortable are they with their adopted homeland that they have lost their migratory instinct and remain in this country all year round.

In contrast, wilder white-fronted geese make it over here en masse either from Greenland or the Siberian tundra each year.

Pink-footed geese, too, travel from as far away as Iceland to take advantage of our milder climate during winter with thousands gathering at estuaries around the country.

The barnacle goose is perhaps the prettiest of these common immigrant species.

Its white face, small beak, and black and white feathers make it almost as distinctive as the Canada goose, though it is much smaller.

Flocks of barnacle geese arrive each year from Greenland or Russia, as do brent geese, a slightly shorter, darker version of the barnacle.

Other well-known wild geese are the greylag goose and bean goose, with the beautiful snow goose and red-breasted goose being much rarer, more exotic visitors.

Because of what they eat, wild geese are often at odds with farmers and various studies have shown the extent of devastation they can wreak.

The Scottish island of Islay is a typical example with farmers there regularly losing thousands of pounds in profit because of grazing by hungry geese. Goose watching by ornithologists and organised shoots bring money back to the island - although this rarely ends up in aggrieved farmers' pockets.

At one time roast goose was the favourite Christmas treat in this country until it was gradually replaced by imported American turkey.

Goose, of course, is still eaten during the festive season but in nothing like the quantity that was once consumed.

We tried goose ourselves for the first time only recently.

I think we must have done something wrong.

This magnificent, succulent bird ended up tasting like a giant piece of shoe leather.

This magnificent, succulent bird ended up tasting like a giant piece of shoe leather.