Skein Birding and Beyond.......: Goose gazing

About Graham Clarkson

Born & brought up in Marshside, I started birding there in the mid 1970s & made my first birding trip to Martin Mere in 1977. I've lived, worked & birdied in Abu Dhabi, Northern Ireland & Gloucestershire & I've spent time working in Kazakhstan & Madagascar. I enjoy birding my various West Lancashire patches, making frequent birding visits throughout the north-west of England and North Wales. I stray elsewhere in the UK & enjoy birding abroad from time to time. I'm particularly interested in wildfowl (especially pink-footed geese) with an interest in waders & raptors, bird counts & surveys & conservation. I'm trying to get the hang of photography & digiscoping - I'll get there eventually.

My degree from Edge Hill University is in conservation biology. I've guided on numerous birding days out & trips & guided birding holidays to Lesvos, Andalucia, Extremedura, Majorca, Camargue, Hungary, Finland & Florida. I enjoy showing people birds & habitats & helping them learn more about birds & enjoy birding. I'm currently involved with the Birdwatching and Beyond course at Edge Hill and a brand new venture; Skein Birding.

As well as birding I'm interested in captive breeding & reintroduction projects & zoos, how they're managed & how they contribute to conservation. I'm a proud Lancastrian & love the Lancashire countryside & landscapes. I'm an Evertonian & also keep up with what's happening at Southport, PNE & Bristol Rovers. Gardening, dogs (I have a Labrador & a Tibetan Terrier) and keeping chickens (especially Marsh Daisys & Scots Dumpy Bantams). Ruth & I have two marvellous boys who both love nature too. I hope you find the blog and subjects covered interesting; please feel free to leave a comment.

Friday 19 October 2012

Goose gazing

Managed a goose watching session at WWT Martin Mere this afternoon, it was really rewarding with a spectacular show being put on by the winged wonders. Visitors to the reserve were wowed by the sight and sound of these magnificent birds and I enjoyed helping out fellow birders get onto birds from the United Utilities hide. I reckon a total of c.9700 pink-feet were shared between plover field, the mere and Tarlscough Moss, from where flocks could be seen rising and falling. Amongst the flocks I picked out two leucistic, two orange-legged and two neck-collared (ICT & TTI) pink-feet. Also among the flock were an adult tundra bean goose, a barnacle goose and a Eurasian white-fronted goose (probably a second year bird), it sounds like at least one other white-front was knocking about; how many are there out and about I wonder? Some photos below. I've got some decent video too, but I can't seem to upload it. Marshside beckons at dawn and I've got a pass out for Sunday, so I'm looking forward to more anserine frolics.