Iconic Geese Flock to UK for Annual Winter Migration

As the autumn season approaches, the skies over northwest England have been filled with the sight of thousands of pink-footed geese, arriving from their summer breeding grounds in Iceland. These migratory birds have been spotted in large formations soaring over the region in recent weeks, as they make their way to the UK for the winter.

One of the key stopover points for the geese is the Martin Mere Wetland Center in Burscough, Lancashire. Center manager Nick Brooks explains that the birds arrive and depart in large, synchronized flocks, often waiting for favorable winds from the north before making the journey. "You always know that the next day you're just going to hear that cacophony of sound," he says, describing the arrival of the geese.

The pink-footed geese, along with whooper swans, use Martin Mere as a "pit stop" to refuel on a variety of crops, including grain, potatoes, and sugar beet tops, as well as grasses and cereals. Apprentice Cornelius Jones says witnessing the birds' arrival is a "fantastic" experience, with the sight of the large flocks "doing something to your soul."

The annual return of the geese to the northwest has become a much-anticipated event, drawing birders from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the iconic birds. One visitor remarks, "Even though these birds are quite ordinary that we're watching at the moment, they're fighting and they're feeding and they're squabbling with each other, it's just great fun to come and try and take some pictures."