While we don't see large flocks of migrating geese in Herefordshire, honking and making quite a racket as they fly overhead, the population at Bodenham Lake can be quite a noisy bunch. The Canada and greylag geese here roost overnight on the lake and then often move off to feed during the day, returning again before dusk. Sometimes they feed in the fields adjacent to the lake where you can see them during the day.
It’s worth scanning through the flocks, especially in winter. Every once in a while they are joined by scarcer species such as brent or pink footed goose.
A group of flying geese is called a skein, characterised by the streamlined ‘v’ shape, the orderly lines rippling as geese change positions. A long piece of wool is also called a skein - with a good dose of imagination the geese look like a long piece of wool gliding through the sky!
We asked the Herefordshire Ornithological Club where else in Herefordshire might be good for having a gander at some geese...
"The best site in Herefordshire for seeing large flocks of Canada Geese is without doubt Brockhall Gravel Pits at Swainshill, where up to 1,500 birds can be seen on certain days during the autumn/winter period. Birds roost there overnight moving out at first light into adjoining fields between Brockhall and Kenchester Pools. However, these local birds are boosted by large flocks or skeins that can be seen flying into Brockhall from a westerly direction each morning and leaving in late afternoon, especially during the Aug-Oct period. (The Weir Garden is an excellent place to view these between 08.00 - 10.00 hrs), and these are deemed to have come from further up the River Wye in the Moccas Court area and further west from around the Winforton/Castleton area. In addition, when the River Lugg is in flood, the Leominster by-pass is a good place to see Canadas and larger numbers will roost at Wellington Gravel Pits and some at Bodenham Lake. Increasingly we are seeing good numbers of Greylag Geese amongst the Canadas and counts of over 100 were seen at both Brockhall and Wellington in Oct/Nov 2022."
