The Wildlife of
Holy Island

 
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Geese and Swans - The Pink-footed Goose

First seen on Saturday 25th September 2021 at Holy Island

Pink-footed Geese are with us for the winter months, usually arriving in September, and leaving in the spring to return to Iceland. They get their name from their pink legs and feet, but these aren't always visible. They are distinctive in other ways though, with dark heads, and small bills which are patchy black and pink. They are in Northumberland in large numbers and can often be seen in spectacular flocks flying from field to field.


 

It's not easy to identify an individual from this angle, but flocks of Pink-footed Geese fly in long skeins and continually chatter to each other in a very distinctive way. This flock flew over the island, but unfortunately didn't land.