October 9th

Barnacle geese have been passing by Crail all week and this morning was particularly good with flocks of 50 or so passing every twenty minutes. Many were low over the sea in straggling flocks but others were in beautiful V formation. They are all probably on their way from Svalbard to winter at Caelaverock on the Solway.

Barnacle geese arriving from Svalbard

At Fife Ness this morning it was relatively quiet. The goldcrests and redwings of last week have spread inland. They are now all over the back gardens of Crail. Robins too, that must also have come in less obviously last week. They are fighting it out with the resident robins who are not very pleased to see the immigrants. A highlight at Fife Ness, along with the barnacle geese, were a pair of pale bellied brent geese. They too have come all the way from Svalbard.

Pale-bellied brent geese - also from Svalbard