Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus

One of Norfolk’s great wildlife spectacles is the sight and sound of huge flocks of pink-footed geese in winter. The best viewpoints to see geese flying in and out of traditional roosts at dawn and dusk are at Snettisham RSPB reserve in West Norfolk and on the coast at Brancaster and Wells next the Sea in North Norfolk.

Sunset or sunrise between November and February are the best times to view big numbers. The fields either side of Lady Ann's Drive at Holkham (https://www.holkham.co.uk/nature-reserve-beach/introduction) are excellent places to view big numbers of geese during the day and as well as pink-footed geese, you are likely to see Brent geese, greylag geese, Canada geese and white-fronted geese. The Washington hide at Holkham (15 minutes walk west on the inland side of the pines from Lady Anne’s Road) is a great goose viewing point and at dusk birds fly on to the marshes to drink and bathe before going to roost.

You may also see large flocks of pink-footed geese feeding on sugar beet fields several miles inland of the North Norfolk coast – the Docking to Burnham Market area is a good area but exact locations vary each year. Please avoid disturbing these feeding birds by going on to private farmland.

Flocks of pink-footed geese may number several thousand but flocks of other species, such as Brent geese, are usually much smaller numbering in the hundreds.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

If you find a bird that has been ringed please contact the Ringing Unit at the British Trust for Ornithology. If the bird is large you may be able to read the ring without handling it. However, it will be difficult to do this on a small bird, in this case it is ok to pick them up but remember to wash your hands and any equipment you used to handle the dead bird.
 
Please report the ring number and if the bird is dead send the ring along with your letter. Provide as much information as you can about the location of where the bird was found, for example, the nearest town/ grid reference. Also include the date you found the bird and the species if it is known. If the bird was dead please also include any information on the cause of death. Also include your details so the BTO can be in contact.

BTO – Report a bird ring 
 
In the interests of monitoring and understanding the spread of avian influenza (bird flu), Defra ask that you report any dead waterfowl (swans, geese, ducks), gulls, or birds of prey you find. You should also report any other dead wild birds you find in numbers of five or more. You can contact them on the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77). Do not touch or handle the dead bird if you can avoid it, but if you must, wash your hands thoroughly as soon as possible, keeping your hands away from your face and any food.


If the bird is a pigeon - rings can be reported to The Royal Pigeon Racing Association
 
Please remember to wash your hands after handling any dead bird.  

 

In the interests of monitoring and understanding the spread of avian influenza (bird flu), Defra ask that you report any dead waterfowl (swans, geese, ducks), gulls, or birds of prey you find. You should also report any other dead wild birds you find in numbers of five or more. You can contact them on the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77). Do not touch or handle the dead bird.

Picture by Julian Thomas

The British Trust for Ornithology carries out many surveys to monitor bird populations and actively seeks assistance from members of the public. For more information, go to their website at www.bto.org. Alternatively you can take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch which normally takes place in January.  

Picture by Pat Adams