Here’s a wildlife spectacle to see on one of your festive winter walks this Christmas. A walk along the seawall at Minnis Bay near Birchington – take your time and you won’t be disappointed.
This coastline is the winter home for thousands of Brent Geese, a species that makes an annual migration here for the winter.
The geese here are survivors of an immense journey, travelling an estimated 3,000 miles from their nesting grounds on the Arctic tundra. They are driven south by the deepening, food-freezing Arctic winter, seeking the milder conditions and rich feeding opportunities of the South and East English coasts.
Size: They are our smallest goose, not much bigger than a mallard duck.
ID: Look for their dark, sooty-grey body, black head and neck, and the distinctive small, lacy white patch on the neck of the adults. You may also spot family groups, as the juveniles usually lack this white neck band and stick close to their parents.
What makes this spectacle truly special is the sheer density and concentration of the birds, which peaks around mid-winter. At high tide, hundreds of birds form “rafts,” bobbing rhythmically just offshore. When the tide drops, they move onto the exposed mudflats to graze on their preferred food: eel-grass. This is a highly nutritious marine plant.
As local supplies of this delicacy are depleted, especially later in the winter, the flocks start moving onto adjacent coastal fields and pastures to feed on grasses and winter cereals. This adaptability has been key to their survival.
You won’t hear them honking like Canada Geese. Listen instead for their constant, rhythmic, “rronk, rronk” call.
This amazing concentration of life is strictly seasonal. The Brent Geese arrive from October and begin leaving again in March and April, heading back north for their brief Arctic breeding season.
Seeing these big numbers is a winter-only privilege. So, wrap up warm and take a coastal walk this Christmas. The sight and sound of the arctic at Minnis Bay is a powerful, humbling reminder of the wild world and well worth the visit.
For the latest local sightings, birdwatching tips, and updates on where the flocks are feeding, you can find more details on the Birchington Bird Club’s Facebook page.
A very enjoyable article and if you like this kind of thing then I recommend looking at “ Reculver Birding “ which usually is updated daily with often with photos with reports and numbers of the various birds , flora , butterflies etc seen by various keen local enthusiasts who are out at the crack of Dawn walking the various paths from Reculver to Minnis Bay , Shuart to Plum Pudding Island . Give it a look as you might be surprised how good it is
A lovely report!
Are they edible? What do they taste like?
A very informative article. Thank you Nik.