In winter, Dumfries and Galloway is a very special place!
Every year, from September to early May, the region plays host to tens of thousands of over-wintering geese: barnacle, greylag, pink-footed, Greenland white-fronted, and brent. They come to escape the bitter winters of their northern breeding grounds, and join our resident populations of feral greylag and Canada geese.
During March 2008, the Dumfries and Galloway Council Ranger Service is putting on a special event, highlighting the six species of geese which regularly over-winter in the area. This event centres around Wigtown Bay, where there is a large winter population of pink-footed geese, and also includes information about other sites of interest to goose-watchers, such as WWT Caerlaverock, RSPB Mersehead, Loch Ken (including RSPB Ken-Dee marshes) and Loch Ryan. Throughout March, there is an exhibition in the Visitors’ Room, on the top floor of the County Building in Wigtown, providing information about the geese, and guiding visitors around the different sites where they can be viewed in Dumfries and Galloway. |
On the weekend of 14th – 16th March, there a programme of special features (see separate page). This includes a film, talks, a chance to observe the dawn flight of pink-footed geese from their roosting site on Wigtown Bay, and opportunities to view the geese of Wigtown Bay, from the Harbour Hide, with volunteers from the Ranger Service to assist in identification. A field identification leaflet is available.
There is also a range of activities for children, available in the Visitors' Room in Wigtown: quizzes, wordsearches, pictures to colour and a Wild Goose Chase board game for all the family to enjoy. Wild Goose Chase Poster Wild Goose Chase Leaflet |
