The heralds of winter have arrived. In the north and east of the UK the fieldfares and redwings are arriving from Iceland and Scandinavia for the winter, and as they get here it’s also time to bid farewell to the swallows as they leave in their droves for warmer climes; a thoroughly sensible course of action if you ask me.
But, somewhat lacking in bird knowledge, if someone asked me to point out a redwing from a line up a few years ago I would have embarrassingly drawn a blank. The autumn arrivals that I have always associated with winter were the geese. Flapping V-formations honking distantly in the cold clear sky, now that’s how to make an entrance!
Look out for flocks of pink-footed and brent geese if you have a clear sunset this weekend, classic photo op.