where can YOU see Pink-footed geese in England this winter?
13 November 2020
Having spent the brief Arctic summer nesting in central Iceland, pink-footed geese will take to open water and spend 25 days afloat, moulting their wing feathers before flying south. Then, one mid-autumn day, with the wind in the right direction, and temperature and food levels dropping, pink-footed families take off!
Into the North Atlantic they fly, making a pit-stop on the Faroe Islands six hours later and resting for a day before taking off again towards British shores. A day later, they land on our coasts. Over 400,000 pink-footed geese will spend the winter in the UK.
The sight and sound of thousands of geese heading overhead, skein after skein, ‘ink ink’ing as they go is one of the highlights of the autumn season for bird and wildlife enthusiasts.
For the greatest spectacle you are advised to visit a reserve at dawn or dusk. Bring your binoculars, a flask of tea or coffee, woollies and your best gloves to keep you warm!
SPECIAL PLACES TO SEE PINK FOOTED GEESE
Pink-footed geese move about a lot during the winter, with flocks flying from Scotland to Lancashire to Norfolk and back in a few days. Keep your eyes skywards, as a skein of high flying geese could well be pink-feet.
Into the North Atlantic they fly, making a pit-stop on the Faroe Islands six hours later and resting for a day before taking off again towards British shores. A day later, they land on our coasts. Over 400,000 pink-footed geese will spend the winter in the UK.
The sight and sound of thousands of geese heading overhead, skein after skein, ‘ink ink’ing as they go is one of the highlights of the autumn season for bird and wildlife enthusiasts.
For the greatest spectacle you are advised to visit a reserve at dawn or dusk. Bring your binoculars, a flask of tea or coffee, woollies and your best gloves to keep you warm!
SPECIAL PLACES TO SEE PINK FOOTED GEESE
- Lincolnshire, Gibraltar Point
- Norfolk, Holme Dunes
- Norfolk, Cley Marshes
- Northumberland, East Chevington
- Yorkshire, Spurn National Nature Reserve
Pink-footed geese move about a lot during the winter, with flocks flying from Scotland to Lancashire to Norfolk and back in a few days. Keep your eyes skywards, as a skein of high flying geese could well be pink-feet.
Pink-footed geese flying near WWT Martin Mere (c) David Fyles
OTHER POPULAR STORIES TO READ:
- Nature Reserves: The best places to visit in 2024
- Review: SWAROVSKI OPTIK ATC 17-40x56 Spotting Scope
- Review: Kowa TSN-66 PROMINAR Spotting Scope
- Review: Páramo Men's Halkon® Jacket
- Review: Viking Optical Swallow ED 20-60x80 Spotting Scope
- Rarities & Conservation: Declining British seabirds are on a cliff edge
- Rarities & Conservation: Golden Eagle numbers in southern Scotland reach highest levels for centuries
- Rarities & Conservation: Uncovering the secrets of one of Europe's rarest eagles
- Rarities & Conservation: Lambs are no longer a major food source for breeding White-tailed Eagles in Scotland
- Nature Reserves: Record-breaking breeding season for Pied Flycatchers in 2023 despite many complex challenges