Cackling x Barnacle Goose

jonnyrankin
Feb 24, 2023
1 min read

There is a feral Barnacle flock at large in East Anglia which, as I understand, breeds in Africa Alive, Kessingland and Penthsthorpe near Fakenham - sometimes also turning up at Holkham. Basically does what it wants.

I saw the flock several times in the last quarter of 2023 - either on Robinson's Marshes, Walberswick or the other side of the river at Town Marshes, Southwold. The flock contains various hybrids including at least 2 Cackling x Barnacle Types and a Barnacle x Ross's. Anyway, I am pretty sure I've seen this bird before - albeit down at Wlaberswick - so it was nice to bump into an old friend at Carlton Marshes this morning.

There was some non-wildfowl there too. Including a full-fat lifer for me, by way of Eastern Yellow Wagtail. Why am I such a bad lad?