Pink-footed Goose Autumn Arrival (Iceland–Scotland) — Loch of Strathbeg

About this spectacle

Each autumn, tens of thousands of pink-footed geese descend on the Loch of Strathbeg in northeast Scotland after their journey from Iceland and Svalbard. The loch — one of Britain's largest dune lakes — becomes a roaring theatre of wings and calls as skeins fill the sky at dawn and dusk. Visitors witness the spectacle of geese lifting off en masse in swirling, V-shaped formations that darken the horizon, accompanied by a constant yelping chorus. The surrounding reedbeds and farmland provide foraging grounds, so birds can be watched feeding at close range. RSPB Strathbeg is a well-managed reserve with hides overlooking the water, offering sheltered views of wildfowl in their thousands. The combination of sound, scale, and drama — set against autumn skies and the flat coastal landscape — makes this one of Scotland's most arresting wildlife events.

When to go

Sep — Dec, peak Oct — Nov

Getting there

Nearest airport: ABZ. Nearest city: Aberdeen.

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