There were approximately 30 birds on the lake and after the dinghy was inflated, Phil explained the various issues of the site, how under no circumstances were the geese to cross towards the second lake before traffic on the access road had been stopped at both sides. Chris and Angela were on their way round to the far side while Phil and I carried the dinghy to the lake edge with Ayesha. Once everyone was in place I was to launch the boat and Ayesha would then drive them from the water. The plan was that I would head off any attempts should the geese double back from the dinghy then join everyone else to herd them across the road and into the pen.
Things didn't go to plan as, at the sight of the dinghy being carried to the lake edge, the entire flock got out on the far side and headed towards the other lake (and the nets). It was one of those rare occasions when it is appropriate to run while herding geese. Phil took the Land Ranger, leaving the vehicle blocking one lane, and in no time at all the whole gaggle had been wrangled in to the holding pen. The access road is at its quietest, early on a Saturday morning and that was the exact reason for the timing of this monitoring effort. The birds were all processed and the equipment back in the Land Ranger ready for travel to Mitcham Common by 9:30am.
It took over an hour to reach Mitcham Common and we were setting up by just after 11am. The water level was quite low and there were a lot of people using the park. This included people fishing around the lake, dog walkers, cyclists and picnickers. Phil was particularly keen to get this year's youngsters among the 57 strong flock and avoid the need for a repeat visit this summer.
The first attempt was hampered by weed problems. The propeller became fouled by weed in the shallower than normal water. Angela and I managed to keep all the birds from exiting along our shore, but when the birds came out by the nets designed to control their movement towards the pen, a dog walker was positioned so as to discourage travel in that direction and they managed to force a hole where two nets joined and about two thirds of the birds escaped. We were left with 17, and only three of those juveniles. Whilst these were being processed, a local resident came over and reported that there had been an attack on the birds one evening, with she said five birds killed with ball bearings. This could have been shot from air guns and the appropriate action, under such circumstances was advised. She had also seen people fishing the lake, at night with large nets. All information will be passed on to the parks staff.
After repairing the gap in the net to prevent any second attempt, in truth, we were not hopeful since the birds had been rounded up once already and we did not know to what extent any recent persecution may make them more difficult to control. This time Angela was relocated over by the nets, with Ayesha and Chris in case of a repeat of a break through attempt. That left me on my own covering the lakeside beyond the left-hand side wing net. They did try a breakout there, but I kept it mostly controlled losing just a pair of adults. A second pair broke back across the water passed the dinghy but the rest were all contained in the corral after a lot of splashing for encouragement.
After the two successful goose round-ups, we finished with a family of Mute Swans on the way back. The two adults were already ringed and the numbers were read and recorded. Two cygnets were caught and ringed, with another two that retreated to the middle of the lake being left for another day.
Goose corral Mitcham Common