Fredericton birdwatchers thrilled with arrival of rare goose

A bird of a different feather is holding court on the fairways of the Carmen Creek Golf Course in Fredericton.

It's not uncommon to see flocks of geese on the course this time of year, but some sharp-eyed observers saw one goose with a big difference.

Its tell-tale pink feet gave it away, and that brought the birding community flocking as well.

"We've had many, many birdwatchers here, and it's incredible the story they're telling about it and how rare it is," said Kim Avery, one of the owners at Carmen Creek. "It's from, apparently, Europe, and it came in from a long way away, and it's something a lot of people don't get a chance to see."

It's called a pink-footed goose, and it is far from home, a whole ocean in fact.

Pinkfeet, as they are nicknamed, breed in Greenland and Iceland, and migrate all over the North Atlantic, at least the European side.

They winter in Ireland, Great Britain, and Northwestern Europe.

According to the Audubon Field Guide, "strays that have gone the wrong direction have been found in North America only a couple of times, in eastern Canada."

Make that three times. This pinkfoot has made friends with the locals, joining up with a flock of Canada geese, and seems right at home.