Migrating Geese

[Jennifer M]

Did anyone else see a huge number of geese in many separate waves of V-formation flying NW over the central Lakes (Ambleside area) on Monday at about 9am? I would like to have some information about them.

[htcdude]

Looking at reports there's been a number of Brent Geese flying over Walney Bird Observatory (90 on Monday, 124 yesterday)

Nige

[mammalrecorder]

Hi Jennifer

I did not see them but these may well have been some of the Crossens Marsh, Southport Pink-footed Geese moving north to the Solway area. They usually do that at this time of year weather permitting. We now have many more than we did last week!

[The Woodman]

I didn't see them but Ambleside is on a regular seasonal migration route (Windermere / Thirlmere) which sees huge skeins of the commoner species, Greylags and Pink footed.

They often move around before the northward migration in the spring and can be distinguished by their calls, the pinks sound like that - a higher pitched "pink, pink". Of course, if you've never heard either, have listen to one of the many websites that have recordings.

I cannot speak for goose flight patterns elsewhere but it appears to me that Brents are coastal flyers around Cumbria, I've never seen them inland but that's to say they don't fly overland.

[captaincarot]

i would have thought it a bit early for migration proper to have started yet, but skeins of geese will range quite widely in their daily search for food,

having been on the coast a bit further down round the ribble estuary early in the morning there can be litterally thousands heading off in all directions as they disperse from their roosts.

[Lyn H]

There are a lot of geese on the Solway this week.

[tom00_uk]

lots of pinks, (three separate groups) 700 in total went over York on Tuesday

[jrn1970]

Hi

I was on Middle Fell above Wastwater on Monday and several skeins of easily 500 geese flew over, they seemed to fly down from the north then turn out to sea over Yewbarrow, but lost them in the clag.

On Tuesday there was a similar event, skeins from the east and north at the same time, and again they turned west over Wastwater. I was on Lingmell, but the clag was too thick to see them properly

And then again at around 9am on wednesday, a simialr number in three skeins from east and north congregated over Wastwater and headed west.

They were higher than Yewbarrow by some way so 2000-2500ft up, but could be heard down at Wasdale Head.

One of the best things I've seen while Wainwright bagging.