Geese Galore

It is that time of the year again when pink footed geese arrive in Lancashire to spend the winter months with us.The farmland of West Lancs is rich in pickings for the geese with remains of the vegetable crops left for them.This last week or so has seen a large influx of geese as the weather conditions have been favourable with settled conditions. A north westerly wind has also helped them on their way from Iceland and they have arrived in their thousands.The current estimate of numbers is well over twenty thousand.

One of the best places to see pink footed geese is at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Martin Mere. I have made a couple of visits recently and have been treated to some spectacular views of the large flocks arriving and settling in for a long stay through the winter months. I think some of the geese use Martin Mere as a staging post before flying on to Norfolk and other parts further south.

I have shown above a few images of the geese as they arrived and flew around the reserve.It is indeed a spectacular sight to see many thousands of geese in the air together.Another wonderful aspect is the sounds the geese make as they communicate coming into land.It is difficult to convey in words and images and you really have to be there to experience what is one of nature's memorable and exciting events. If you can I recommend a visit to Martin Mere to witness this annual spectacle.Thanks for looking in and more from Lancashire's wildlife soon.