two young snow geese.

They're not exactly from Santa's north pole, but they do come from the icy tundra of northern Canada.

Snow geese are only seen in Bermuda about once every three years, and tend to like golf courses. The two pictured above have settled at the Riddells Bay course in Warwick.

Local bird writer Mr. Eric Amos believes the birds could have been trying to escape bad weather on the eastern seaboard of North America.

"This was their first journey and they were probably blown off the continent during the storms they have been having,'' he said.

"They were seen flying in on December 22 and they arrived at the golf course about the 24th. They've been there ever since.

"They're likely to stay, unless they get hit by a golf ball.

"They should leave in about April to go back to Canada if they follow the pattern of the other ones we've had. They're always nice to see.'' The birds are expected to lose their juvenile colouring gradually, turning snowy white by the time they leave the Island.

Conservation officer Dr. David Wingate appealed for golfers to tolerate the birds' small amount of grazing.

"They are highly stressed visitors, probably very glad to be in Bermuda, and the least we can do is host them for a little while.'' He said snow geese, once quite scarce, were now increasing in numbers thanks to protection from hunters and modern mechanical harvesting, which left more grain on the ground for them.

HERE FOR THE GOLF -- Two snow geese have taken up residence at Riddells Bay golf course, giving bird watchers a festive thrill.