After a 2000 mile journey from their breeding grounds on the Arctic island of Svalbard, the first Barnacle Geese started arriving on the Solway Firth at Caerlaverock on 23rd September this year. In excess of 25,000 will have arrived at this present time.
Here on Campfield Marsh, although there have been a few small skeins through over the last week or so, the first sightings of any significant numbers occurred on 17th October when in the region of 1500 geese, in small groups, flew WSW along the saltmarsh and estuary, seemingly heading for areas round Moricambe Bay. The staccato "yak', not unlike the sound of a pack of hounds baying, continued intermittently from 4.15 to 5pm.
They were a splendid sight and sound to behold!
The first skeins appeared at West Common, flying in from the east over the Viaduct.
Then opposite, looking north, they could be seen flying simultaneously in groups low over the water.
Some came in discrete V-formations . . .
. . . whilst others, as part of larger groups.
Those coming along the marsh, repositioned themselves to go round Scargavel Point , following the contour of the coastline . .
. . . but others decided to take the short cut straight over the hamlet.