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Can't recommend a ride out to Aberlady, to coincide with low tide, enough just now. There are 1000s of Pink-Footed Geese, just across the river from the road, having arrived from Iceland. The noise is astonishing, and every now and then they decide to take to the air, turning into a murmuration that would put Starlings to shame, with these big birds all twisted and shaping in the sky.
Just wonderful.
(there are also a few Little Egrets on the river as well).
murmuration
The same of geese called a honkuration?
Should be passing that way on Saturday.
How long have we got?
The geese at Aberlady are just a wonderful phenomenon.
we went a few years ago and had a dreadful time getting back owing to a snarky guard (posts, passim)
have been planning to go again this year. thanks for the heads up.
The count was over 9000 geese on Friday so much higher now.
As they descend to land, the geese spill air from their wings which is known as whiffling!
Enjoy!
Cheers
Colin
From Sunday
Pink Foot Geese and the Forth Bridge by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr
Pink Foot Geese Murmuration by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr
Airborne Pink Foot Geese by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr
Pink Foot Geese 1 by blackpuddinonnabike, on Flickr
I knew the tide would be on the turn but I cycled out for a look yesterday. From your photos BPoaB I was expecting a real life David Attenborough spectacle. What I saw was a dull grey lagoon with what might have been a flock of birds in the distance. What am I doing wrong?
Not doing anything wrong - wildlife is wildlife and doesn't always follow a script. A big flock int he distance was possibly wheeling about because someone had walked too close (happened on Sunday), before returning a little later. Other thing with wildlife, often takes a bit of patience...
Aberlady is soooooo much more than just that bit by the road as well. There is a stunning, huge, beach at the end of the walk through where you can see Sanderling and Ringed Plovers and Gannets and Cormorants and Seals (and rusting single person subs once used for bombing practice); walking there you go through grassland and moory type stuff and sort-of-machair and buckthorn bushes that are full of Fieldfare in the winter; you can see Deer and Peregrines and Buzzards, Kestrels, Damselflies, Dragonflies, Stonechats and more more more.
The 'dull lagoon' attracts Little Egrets and Curlew, all sorts of types of ducks and geese.
Occasionaly a White-tailed Eagle will fly over (never seen that one myself).
Aberlady is truly a wee gem of a place.
Your 500mm lens probably helped a bit too!
From where I was, undoubtedly (at least for gettign photos), but from the wee bridge, or the pavement beside the road looking across, the sound and sight without any optical aid is still stunning.
Thanks WC. I clearly need to get off the bike and walk round the coast a bit.
I have been over the bridge before several times. But it was with the girls when they were small so the bridge was a big deal - scary slats with gaps - and we only got about a further half mile before they wanted to turn back.
My middle daughter later on became quite an obsessive birdwatcher and we went on guided visits to the M'burgh lagoons, Vane Farm, Loch Garten etc. She seemed to be able to name everything we saw. But that was years ago.
Probably still knows more than me! I'm winging it generally.
winging it
Ba dum tsh!
Shhhhhh! I almost got away with it!
I'll be taking my bins.
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