Thousands of pink- footed geese have been spotted (and heard) over the past few weeks in flight over the Bridlington coastline.
Many people have heard the familiar thinking sound or spotted the mesmerising V shaped flying formation of the birds as they fly northwards from the Humber river estuary to feed in the stubble fields around Bempton and Buckton and the Flamborough headlands.
Mark Thomas, an ornithologist who is a familiar figure in the area explained:
“They are Pink-footed Geese, they are arriving to spend the winter in the UK. Large numbers are present on the coast in Norfolk and Lancashire but in recent years the number on the Humber has increased – possibly because less sugar beet is being left in fields in Norfolk.
They roost on the Humber and then fly to fields to feed each day especially around Buckton/Bempton at this time of the year. They breed in Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard.”
Tony Hood from the Flamborough Bird observatory told the Echo: “Several hundred thousand winter in the U.K. especially in Scotland and Norfolk, this year has seen many more overwintering in East Yorkshire with over 40000 on the Humber.
“Large numbers have also been seen roosting at Hornsea mere then flying out to fields around the Wolds to feed.”
