Barnacles - always great to see here at this time of the year.
Had a great trip round the Cardurnock Peninsular, on to Silloth via Angerton and Abbeytown and then back, today. The sunny start must have got things moving as there were geese to be seen at every turn.
A spectacular flock of Barnacles, the largest we’ve ever seen, were grazing the fields under and around the masts at Anthorn. There must have been some 4000+ including one leucistic bird and two leg-tagged ones (not close enough to read the lettering, though).
Part of the large flock of Barnacles under the masts at Anthorn . . .
. . . and more to the right.
There was continual movement as small groups take off and others fly in.
Several were leg-tagged. This one had an orange ring on its right leg - others had white rings.
Further along near Longcroft, there was another smaller flock north of the road. This time a mixed flock of in the region of 200 Barnacles and 140 Pinkfeet.
Mixed flock near Longcroft.
Motoring on further, we caught a glimpse of a small group of Whoopers in the bend of the river, but they did not materialize as we crossed Whitrigg Bridge.
Turning off on the Silloth road, as we approached the sharp bend in the road at Angerton, could see a flock of Pinkfeet making to land in the riverside fields. This group, of about 100 geese, landed in a field already being used by about 50 Curlew.
We caught up with this flock near Angerton . . .
. . . and they came in to land.
Part of the group that landed.
Carrying on towards Abbeytown, we kept seeing swirling flocks of geese on the skyline.
Periodic flocks seen in the distance.
Having replenished ourselves with fish and chips in Silloth, the return journey was equally eventful. Near Salt Coates, small flocks of Pinkfeet could be seen in various fields through the hedges and again, distance flocks flying towards Newton Marsh.
Black-headed gulls changing to summer plumage - having devoured our fish and chip scraps in Silloth.
As we returned round the Cardurnock Peninsular, the flock of Barnacles we had seen under the Anthorn masts in the morning, had now moved to the saltmarsh edge of the river and were peacefully grazing as the tide ebbed. A fitting end to a great trip out!
A throng of Barnacles on the saltmarsh edge opposite the Anthorn masts . . .
. . . and grazing peacefully.