Brent Geese at the Links Cricket Pitch

Up to 80 Pale Bellied Brent Geese winter in Nairn every year, travelling from their breeding grounds in the Norwegian Artic Archipelago, Svalbard.

For some reason this year they've chosen to feed on the cricket pitch and the football pitch at The Links.  Their usual feeding area is on the eel grasses on the shoreline around the golf course and along to the pool.  A friend has suggested that these may have been covered by the moving sands, and so the geese have been forced onto the pitches to feed on the grass.

 
Hopefully they will not be put off returning to Nairn, and we see them back on the beach next year, where they have been a regular source of interest for bird watchers in the area.

The Brent Geese Return

I was pleased to see the Brent Geese back in their usual winter spot on the rock pools on the West Beach.  A small group of these birds return to Nairn every winter; to exactly the same spot, alongside the Nairn Golf Course.

From what I can tell this is the only spot on the Moray Firth that the Brent feed over the winter; so what is it that attracts them back year after year?  The group is always a small one; the most I have seen is around 60.  On Friday I counted 35.  They find plenty to keep them occupied along the coastline and are far enough away from the dog walkers to be too bothered.

It may be a bit sad and anoraky of me, but I was really excited when I saw them yesterday!  I thought they decided to ignore Nairn this winter!  So keep your eye out for them as you walk along the shoreline, particularly at low tide.  They are one of the easier geese to identify, although with their black and white features, they could be confused with Canada Geese.  These birds are smaller than Canada Geese and have a very tell-tale white spot on their neck to really give them away.

On the subject of identification of geese: I find that grey geese are very difficult to get to grip with.  Pinkfoot or Greylag?  Well, the 1,000 or so geese in the field near the airport are Greylag.  The best way to tell is the size and colour of the head and neck; but if you do not have a telescope to hand to help spot the difference, just listen to the call.  The Greylag honks like a farm goose!  The Pinkfoot has a more delicate ‘wink wink’ sound.

By the way, I notice that a small flock of Dunlin (or are they Knot?!) are resting on the sandbar at the harbour along with the Redshank.  They make for a great display when they all set off at the same time; flashing grey and white as they twist and turn in low flight.

Here's to a health 2011 and plenty of happy bird watching!

Seamus

Brent Geese are still here!

I was wrong! In a previous blog I'd commented on not seeing the Brents for some time and assumed they had headed off. Well today, 23 of them were feeding on beach west of the golf club. It was good to see them!

Further east toward the harbour wall, 14 Widgeon resting among about one hundred of Black Headed Gulls and Herrings and Commons. There was a real mêlée further out at sea with undreds of gulls sitting or diving into a very small section fo the water, no doubt feeding on a bountiful quarry. There were smaller sea birds too, but my telescope is not powerful enough to identify, and the sea was very rough which makes it even tougher. Our regulars are always about though – the Eiders, Turnstones and Oyster Catchers.

Talking of a mêlée out at sea. A few days ago Charlie reported a similar sight off Burghead – and ‘the largest number of dolphins he had seen in the area’. So it’s worth keeping your eye out for both dolphins and Minke Whales.

Further afield. Yesterday we went up toward the foot hills of Ben Wyvvis around Loch Ussie. Lots of activity here with trees full of Fieldfare patrolling their area in groups. Flying from tree to tree and then onto the field to feed. Lots of smaller passerines, mainly finches and Tits. A Greater Spotted Woodpecker bounded across the open field to the safety of the nearby trees.

I will be talking more about this area over the ext few months as we plan to visit there regularly.

Séamus

Brent Geese

It's always useful to carry your scope everywhere you go! I was just driving from the Royal Golf Course and spotted 42 Brent Geese waddling along the sand on the West Beech toward the swimming pool. Great views as they relaxed, some preening. Unfortunately I spotted the dreaded dog walker letting his dog off the lead and the birds prepared to flee - so good timing on my part!