Where the Arctic Meets the Severn - White-Fronted Geese at Goldcliff Lagoons

White-Fronted Geese

 For a few hours this morning, the clouds cleared, blue sky appeared, and the sun was shining at Goldcliff Lagoons. I was able to do some birdwatching and get a little dose of Vitamin D to fight a serious case of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The lagoons are all full to the brim after the monsoon levels of rain we have been having this month.  My highlight of the visit was watching a flock of 15 White-Fronted Geese.

This species of geese is not a common visitor to Goldcliff Lagoons. They migrate to the UK mainly from the Arctic—specifically:

• Greenland

• Iceland

• Russia (especially Siberia)

They breed on tundra landscapes way up north during the short Arctic summer, then head south as winter bites—arriving in the United Kingdom to spend the colder months on wetlands, estuaries, and flooded grazing marshes.

I took the opportunity to record some video of the flock grazing on the grassy verges of Priors and Becs Lagoons.

There were plenty of birds putting in an appearance, including two Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard being mobbed by a pair of Carrion Crows, a pair of Kestrels, a big flock of 200 + Lapwings, two Redshank and plenty of winter thrushes hanging around. Shoveler ducks were in good numbers, as were their smaller cousins - Teal. Priors had a small flock of Gadwall and lots of Coot.

Stonechat ( Male)

Meadow Pipit

A nice flock of Meadow Pipits showed well near the Marsh Platform, and a pair of Stonechats were very photogenic.

Good to be out in the fresh air and getting some bird therapy at my favourite reserve.