A mystery solved

We're often asked 'where do the birds come from?' - and now we can answer the story for another species

We're often asked 'where do the birds come from?' - and now we can answer the story for another species, our Barnacle Geese!

Every winter the UK hosts around 100,000 wild Barnacle Geese arriving from their breeding grounds of Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland. Most of these birds winter in Scotland, with the WWT Caerlaverock Wetland Centre being a great place to see them. Find out more about the centre here.

On the reserve at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre we have around 200 wintering Barnacle Geese, but these birds are from the naturalised population resident in the UK and mainly found across England and Wales, although small numbers occur in Scotland. For many years it was believed that the birds on the reserve bred locally a few miles away lakes at Frampton on Severn, but the number of breeding birds here do not correspond to the number wintering on the reserve. As part of a new study across England and Wales, over 800 Barnacle Geese from the naturalised population have been caught in 2021 and given uniquely identifying colour rings. You can find out more about the study here.

This morning on the Dumbles a check through the Barnacle Geese revealed 12 colour ringed birds from the study. These birds were all caught and colour ringed at Llangorse Lake, near Brecon in South Wales. In total 46 birds were caught and colour ringed at the lake in July 2021, and at least 38 are now known to be wintering on the reserve at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Thanks to the study we now know that at least two different naturalised populations are joining together in the winter. So next time you're checking through the geese, don't forget to check and report any colour ringed birds to the study!

Estuary Tower
The Barnacle Goose flock contained 208 birds this morning on the Dumbles including at least 12 birds with colour rings. The Ross's Goose and Snow x Bar-headed Goose hybrid were also present. The last few days have seen lots of Meadow Pipit and a few Skylark over the Dumbles - be sure to listen out for their calls. Following high tide this morning 20 Great Black-backed Gulls were still in the roost on the riverbank.

South Lake
Two drake Pochard were with 41 Tufted Duck on the deep lake, and a flock of 139 Black-tailed Godwit were on the wader scrape. A Mediterranean Gull was found late morning.

Rushy Hide
Three Spotted Redshank were roosting on the lower pond this morning with 12 Redshank, a Greenshank, an Avocet and three Black-tailed Godwit. Duck included 197 Teal, four Wigeon and 27 Tufted Duck.

Grounds
It is always worth checking the birds on the Big Pen outside the visitor centre. This morning there were seven Pintail and 41 Tufted Duck amongst the Mallard, Greylag Geese and Mute Swan. The Black Swan is also still present.

Middle Point
A Great Egret, 13 Little Egret and four Grey Heron were fishing on the falling tide. Waders included a Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit with 183 Curlew. The juvenile Spoonbill was seen flying north and wildfowl included 27 Shelduck, 32 Pintail and 21 Wigeon

Robbie Garnett Hide
A Cattle Egret was on the Tack Piece this morning with the cattle but then moved to the Top New Piece.

Zeiss Hide
A flock of 21 Ruff dropped in late morning, along with the Cattle Egret.

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