Bar-headed goose who flew to Mannar

The Bar-headed Goose is a remarkable species, known for being one of the highest-flying birds in the world. In fact, there are unconfirmed reports of these geese being spotted flying over Mount Everest during their winter migration to the Indian subcontinent. However, they don’t venture as far as Sri Lanka during this migration, nor are they typically recorded as a species seen in the country. That’s what makes finding one in Mannar so extraordinary—it’s a rare and unexpected sighting that adds another layer of intrigue to the region’s avian wonders.

On a bright, clear day - 27th of December 2017 - I came across this goose in Mannar. At the time I took the photograph, I didn’t even realise what I was witnessing. Hence, the low-quality images, as I couldn’t get too close to the other shore of the lake. Once I got back only I realised what a rare sight I have come across.

Imagine a single Bar-headed Goose soaring over the Himalayas, crossing the vast expanse of the Indian subcontinent, then gliding over the Palk Strait, and finally making its way to Sri Lanka. What incredible story could lie behind this extraordinary journey? Did it stray off course? Was there a glitch in its internal compass, or perhaps it simply felt the urge to venture farther than the rest of its flock? The mystery remains, and we may never know the true reason for such a bizarre and captivating event.

Hope he liked it in Sri Lanka and flew back safely to find his own kind.

#mannar #birdsofsrilanka #barheadedgoose #birdsofmannar