Light-bellied brent geese, Loch Ryan 10 November 2016 A gaggle of light-bellied brent geese feeds on eel grass and algae in the shallows of a sea-loch. Bright bellies shimmer in pools of reflected light. Ripples on the water, ripples of dark and light plumage on the mantle of the goose, pale ripples on the breast. White horses over Loch Ryan, bands and streaks of gloss and gleam where wildfowl feed. Rainbows over the sea-loch, sudden squalls and blustery chill. Reflected in a film of water, redshank seem on stilts and all aglow. Mute swans brilliant in a moment of illumination. Handsome light-bellied brent goose, in Norse Ringgas. Is that how the Vikings named them?
It is pure sensation: sunlight on sea-loch and cold, invigorating wind, subtle and shifting pattern and colour. Wildfowl intent on feeding, heads down and bills in the silts. Perspectives on light-bellied brent geese- a gleaming source of light. Afterwards, there's the need to know and goose arcana takes hold, all that is known about the light-bellied brent goose, known so far. They are come from northeast Canada, northeast Greenland to overwinter in northern Ireland. The brent goose does not fly in a chevron, but in a wavering line, in a mass. The call is growl-like. From my images I might try to distinguish adult from juvenile, to identify a goose from its leg ring.
Fleeting light over Loch Ryan. Light-bellied brent geese with widgeon. Final image- mute swans with widgeon. You can see the light changing through this sequence.
In my mind’s eye I picture three of us kneeling roadside, Peter, Chris and I, cameras resting on a low wall to steady ourselves against the wind and photographing wildfowl. Wild they are, and wary . They’re always further off than a photographer might wish. Juggling between binoculars, glasses and camera I see the split-second when a turnstone shows clear against a gloss of water, and lose it. What I saw is not what I can show. Here’s an image of the back-end of a turnstone burying its head in red seaweed!
Of all the birds on Loch Ryan it was the brilliance of the light-bellied brent geese, the sweep of sea-loch and refraction of light through wave and gloss of water that made the magic.
Of all the birds on Loch Ryan it was the brilliance of the light-bellied brent geese, the sweep of sea-loch and refraction of light through wave and gloss of water that made the magic.
Red seaweed on the shore of Loch Ryan, turnstone delving in seaweed, a trio of scaup
Cheery interlude in a cafe and an opportunity to warm up. The light-bellied brent geese overwinter in northern Ireland which is not far across the water.
In the afternoon Ken spied white-fronted geese, in a pasture. So as not to disturb them, we looked first from the van, then snuck out to set up telescopes and observe. A small group flew close overhead and merlin flashed past, the first I’ve seen for ages. Four hen harriers showed, two males, two ring-tails. Four hen harriers together! Another great day.
WAXWING footnote. Rumours of waxwing took us twice to a Dumfries supermarket where we failed to find waxwing. We learnt later that they were 200 m away at the ice rink.
Late November and there's high pressure, sunshine and ice. I hear a couple of fieldfare on Scout Scar but can see none. Despite the glorious weather there are few birds about.
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