Brent Geese

The Brents seen off the south coast by Richard Ellis raises a number of interesting points. To begin with it is the largest number recorded in Pembrokeshire in a day, previously 190

. Richard does not indicate whether it was possible to identify the birds to race. Both DB (bernicla) and LB (hrota) winter along the Biscay coast of France, which is probably where these birds came from.

DB from Biscay regularly pass eastwards through the English Channel in spring, on their way back to Siberia, so it is not difficult to visualise some using the Bristol Channel for the same purpose, passing through the Severn Valley to the Wash, with the option of stopping off in the Bury Inlet to refuel. There is a record of c40DBs migrating inland up the Brandy Brook on the 14th March 1997 in a similar manner.

Were Richard's geese LB they could have been off course when intending to fly from Biscay to Ireland, an established leg on a journey back to Canada. This kind of drift, perhaps caused by weather conditions, could have been the factor that has seen temporary influxes in spring at the Gann, an event which has built up over the past ten years or so.  

Anyone else have some thoughts?