Brave Barnacles

Looking out over the Severn Estuary this morning there were 140 Barnacle geese which had flown in from the Arctic circle to winter here ........in the warmth! Slightly strange really as I had 6 layers on to brace myself against the ferocious wind hurtling down the river today but over time it died down and the sunshine really did warm everything and everybody up.

To get here the geese have faced all extremes of weather, avoided hunters and had to find food on the way. As they haven't appeared on the BlipBigYear yet and well deserve a mention I thought I would get a shot before they take the staggeringly long journey, 2,000 miles, back to the snowy wastes.

They nest on high cliff faces away from predators such as Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears but the goslings aren't fed by the adults and at just 3 days old they jump out and drop like stones down the cliff face! Not the greatest start in life!! They are small feathery and light which help their fall but many do die on impact..... How brave are they?!!!!