Greenland White-fronted Geese are a very localised winter visitor to Scotland. Orkney has one site where it is still possible to encounter this distinctive goose. A medium-sized grey goose with orange legs and an orange bill; adults have a large white patch surrounding the base of the bill and bold black bars on the belly. Juveniles lack this black barring.
Whilst out on site yesterday I had a close encounter with a flock of around 70 birds near The Loons hide at Birsay. They were feeding in the fields near Linnabreck HY248246. Managed even to get my first images in 6 years of these birds (that I’m willing to post anyway), as normally these birds feed below Yonbell Hill.
Greenland white-fronted geese arrive on the Scottish north and west coasts in October, leaving again in April. During winter, the birds feed mainly on improved grasslands, eating grass and clover. Quite often, when they arrive back in Greenland, the ground is still covered in deep snow. They have to wait, sometimes several weeks, for the snow to melt before they can begin breeding.In recent years, between 50 -100 Greenland White-fronted Geese have been wintering mainly feeding around The Loons RSPB Reserve on Orkney. Included within this flock is a rather special individual with an interesting life history as it is wearing a neck collar originally fitted in Eire in 2004.
Neck-collared individual - N8H (Photo - A.J Leitch)N8H was caught in Wexford, Eire during winter 2003/4, subsequently seen on Islay during the winter 2005/6, & 2006/7, then at The Loons RSPB Reserve, on Orkney annually since 2007/8, 2008/9, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12and 2012/13. Yesterday was the first time this particular individual has been seen during winter 2013/14, what is even more encouraging is that the numbers of birds present has started to increase.
Given the world population has decreased from 35,000 to 25,000 in the last decade any signs of an increase in birds is welcomed, even if just a few!