Hi - I've just seen a large group of brown birds - at first I thought geese - over the sea at Hove, Sussex. They were quiet, near the shore and low over the water. The standout thing was that they were in a line and in an undulating formation as they flew eastwards which would progress along the group from the bird furthest from the shore to the nearest and then repeat. It was amazing! I hope to see them again.
A quick Google tells me brown pelicans and the behaviour description is exactly right but they're found in US not UK or Europe.
Does anyone know what they are?
Many thanks
Katie
Common scoter or one or other species of geese imo.
Auks do this too, so they could be razorbills or guillemots. Defo not brown pelicans!
Size would be an issue, if thinking they could be geese…..then pelicans. Auks, by comparison, are far smaller.
Thanks so much for your replies. Definitely not pelicans! And neither guillemot or razorbills as they were all one colour and brown. Looking at a picture of the common scoter I'd say it was that; the right colour, size and shape. I really hope I see them again soon, although I see they're Red Watch listed so fairly rare. I've certainly never seen them in Sussex before. Thanks again, Katie.
The flight pattern is called 'wave slope soaring' apparently
Seen exactly the same thing in Kent today
I even said the formation was just like pelicans
did see some guillemot’s on the water later on
Amazing! Lucky us. I hope to see them again :)
Jane R said:Seen exactly the same thing in Kent today I even said the formation was just like pelicans
Did you get to i.d. what they were?
What an incredible experience! Nature always has surprises in store!