Goose watching on the Lancs mosses.

Pink-footed Geese, Downholland Moss (W Lancs) 8 February 2012.

 Spent a few hours goose-watching on the W Lancs mosses this morning. It took me quite sometime to find any grounded birds though. Not that I minded as there were plenty of other birds took look at including countless Buzzards (not that many, I just didn't count them!), Red-legged and Grey Partridges, Sparrowhawk and 26 Golden Plover with Lapwings.

Mediterranean Gull, Barton Moss (W Lancs) 8 February 2012.

Mediterranean Gull on Barton Moss this morning.

 One nice flock of about 300 Common Gulls between Plex and Barton Mosses looked worthy of inspection and a black hood immediately grabbed my attention. A quick check revealed white wing-tips and the it woke up.

 Cracking birds Mediterranean Gulls; I expect to see a few more as February progresses and they appear around the south Ribble marshes.

 But it was the geese I was mainly there for and I found about 5000 or so on Downholland Moss, very flighty at first but once they settled I spent a couple of hours with them.

Pink-footed Geese on Downholland Moss today.

Spot the Bean!

 I soon picked out a nice Tundra Bean Goose (centre) and then three neck-banded Pink-feet (PZL, TJS and PBH).

The flock would hop fields from time to time and I reckon I picked out the same Tundra Bean Goose on at least two more occasions before I found another pair, making at least three Tundras present today. Lots more geese scattered around in dead ground and against the light, so could be other goodies there?