For many of us spotting our first geese of the autumn is a sure sign that colder days are on the way. Find out more about these annual visitors to Scotland and some of the places where you can see them in this blog by RSPB Scotland's Jess Barrett.
Skies alive with geese
“Honk honk!” has to be one of my favourite bird calls to hear at this time of year when out on a coastal walk, wrapped up against the crisp cool weather. It’s the call of geese and often the first thing that alerts you to their presence. How many of us have then stopped to look up at the sky to see the distinctive V shape formation of geese called a skein, catching the soft low light making their way to feeding grounds or roost sites?
Around this time of year huge numbers of geese appear in Scottish skies, coming here to escape the colder winters of their summer homes further north, or passing through en route to settle elsewhere in the UK for the next few months. The species to keep an eye out for over the next few months are the daintier looking pink-footed geese, the agile white-fronted geese, the distinctive black and white barnacle geese, around 85,000 migrant greylag geese (a further 20,000 are resident in Scotland all year round), and the much rarer bean geese – only around 200 of these birds spend the winter in Scotland close to Falkirk.
Geese return to the same areas each year whether it’s a site they are settling at or just a stop off on their journey. Huge flocks congregate in some places such as flocks of around 40,000 barnacle geese on the Solway Firth and on Islay, while the pink-footed geese seen at Loch of Strathbeg just a few weeks ago will already be moving on elsewhere.
One of the things I love most about geese how graceful they appear in the sky but there are practicalities behind the stylish V shape of a skein. First of all it allows every bird to have a good view point – they can all see the lead goose flying at the front so know which way to go. Secondly, and very importantly on such long migration flights, it’s an efficient use of energy. As you may have experienced with cycling behind another bike, a goose behind another goose will benefit from a reduction in drag. It does mean things can get pretty tiring for the lead goose though so the leader will switch when each goose tires too much – now that’s teamwork!
The other thing I love about geese couldn’t be more different – their waddling walk when on land! You might have spotted geese, maybe a few or perhaps a large flock, nibbling away on the ground as they feed, or bobbing about on lochs or estuaries. The sight of a large group of them coming into land or all taking off together is something truly spectacular!
Many of our reserves where geese are found run special goose related events over the autumn and winter so you too can have the chance to experience the wonderful sights and sounds of them, including sunrise walks at Loch Lomond on 4th November and 13th January, and duck and goose walks at Mersehead on 15th and 22nd November, and 6th December. Why not come along and see our winter visitors for yourself?