​A birdwatcher by the name of D. Webb recorded a sighting of two Egyptian geese at Marcle Ridge in the east of the county, according to the birdwatching site, goingbirding.co.uk. Although their name may suggest so, the birds aren’t “true geese” according to the Wildlife Trust, but rather, are members of the shelduck sub-family, Tadorninae. The birds favour wetland environments, but can also be found in urban parks and gravel pits. According to the RSPB, Egyptian Geese have distinctive brown eyepatches, which can be spotted easily in contrast with their white wing patches in flight. The British Trust for Ornithology describe the bird, which was first spotted in Hertfordshire in 1898, as “loud and striking”. The trust believes the population has “significantly” expanded over the years, with only around 900 birds recorded in 1991, 91 per cent of which were registered in Norfolk. Read more: Discussing the population change, the trust says: “This non-native species originally established a self-sustaining population in Norfolk, but has increased both its range and its population over the last 50 years.” A second “core” population has also been reportedly established around Greater London. Stay updated with all the latest Herefordshire news that matters to you! Read the local news and stay informed with our advert-free app, read the paper before anyone else via: The Digital Edition, gain unlimited access to Hereford Times website, and much more. The birds are widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with introduced populations also established in Holland, Belgium, and France, according to the British Waterfowl Association. The association said concerns over conflict with native species has led to restrictions on keeping Egyptian geese in the UK and Europe, under the UK Invasive Alien Species Order 2019.