Brant geese only seen at the coast
Photos: Arne Ader
Translation: Liis
Migrating brant geese
Brant goose; Brent goose Mustlagle Branta bernicla
The brant goose is a common passing migrant on the Estonian coast but only few stay, from September to November.
It is a duck-sized goose, weight around a kilo and a half. The brant goose has a darker plumage than its relatives: the head and the thickish neck are black, as the beak and legs. The neck of adults is embellished by crescent-shaped white patches. The remainder of the plumage is brownish grey, patterned with darker patches, only the tip of the tail is white.
During the last 25 years they have learnt from other geese to forage in pastures and sprouting grain fields. As very skilled swimmers they feed on aquatic plants and smaller invertebrates.
They migrate in small groups; even long distances are covered flying low above the water, in irregular formation unlike the custom of other geese of flying in a V-shaped formation.
We meet them in north-western Estonia, the Sounds Sea, and at Ristna nina on Hiiumaa as well as at Sõrve säär in Saaremaa.
The migration of brant geese can be followed in the e-Biodiversity database here: LINK
Read also about barnacle geese again:
Brant goose
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