VAGRANT HOT-SPOTS

The key to finding and seeing vagrants is checking flocks of carrier species. Here’s a selection of some of the best sites in the UK for finding rarities.

■ Findhorn and Nigg Bays, Highland As Pink-footed Geese arrive from the north they often stage at sites such as Nigg Bay, Sutherland, and Findhorn Bay, Highland. Among the tens of thousands of birds look out for Snow and Cackling Geese. Ross’s Goose has been noted within these flocks previously and, in recent winters, Greybellied Brant.

■ North Norfolk

The coastal fields and marshes are a mecca for geese. Check the large Brent Goose flocks for Black Brant. Pink-footed Geese often hold scarcer species such as Tundra Bean, Cackling, Snow or even Red-breasted Goose. These are best located by carefully scanning feeding flocks inland rather than waiting at roost sites.

■ Islay, Argyll

This magical island hosts more than 40,000 geese. It is an excellent area for vagrants. Richardson’s Cackling Goose and Todd’s Canada Goose are annual in small numbers. The island has also recorded putative Taverner’s Cackling Goose and Lesser Canada Goose. Snow Geese occasionally appear and Red-breasted has been

recorded. Six species of geese in a day is quite feasible here. This is the most likely location of Britain’s first Gambel’s Whitefronted Goose, too!

■ Caerlaverock and the Solway Firth This area is host to thousands of wintering Barnacle and Pink-footed Geese which frequently draw in scarce and rare species including Todd’s Canada and Cackling Geese.

■ Martin Mere, Lancashire

Thousands of Pink-footed Geese attract species such Tundra Bean, not to mention the occasional rarity. Nearby fields and coastal marshes also host big flocks.

■ Farlington Marshes, Hampshire

The coastal marshes hold an impressive aggregation of Dark-bellied Brents and, with them, the occasional Black Brant.

■ Yare Valley, Norfolk

The wet grasslands here hold one of only two wintering populations of Taiga Bean Geese which have also attracted Lesser White-fronted Goose, although this population is on the wane.