Ponderings on Brents

Very thought provoking and considered post from Graham.  My personal view from limited knowledge gleaned from 'developments' at the Gann/Angle over the last 10 years or so, which has seen a steady increase in wintering and passage activity from pale-bellied Brents (with the odd dark-bellied thrown in, and don't forget the putative Grey-bellied), is that Richard's observations were most likely of pale-bellied birds moving from Biscay or even the South West of England via Pembs to Ireland and then on to Iceland.  All of the colour ringed birds recorded in Pembs in recent years have been birds ringed in either Iceland or Ireland, and at some point seen in France and/or South West England (usually the Tamar estuary, in particular Torpoint which is on the Cornish side).  Fascinating stuff, and especially welcome here in Pembs -  their call is soothing (?) and the way they potter around the Gann in family groups is just lovely!