We pitched up in Glencaple, just south of Dumfries, yesterday as evening was rolling in, and we parked at the end of the pier looking at the river Nith. The river was flowing out to sea and was almost mirrorlike; then the barnacle geese started to swarm in! These guys flock to this area every year at this time and originate from Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago, and they are here in their thousands! I was advised that the incoming flock had been over to Islay for the day and were heading back to Glencaple for the night!
Once the number dropped to just a few groups of ten or twenty, I decided to send the drone up to have a peek around, but perhaps inevitably, given the fading light, I was unable to see any. However, if you look closely, you will see a few fly by towards the end of the recording below.. However, I can attest to the fact that there were indeed thousands settled for the night across the Nith as they were 'barking' well into the night.
Another interesting point to note is that Glencaple is located at the point that the sea and the river Nith mingle, and the mudflats constitute a significant microcosm in their own right. Every day is a school day!