We're delighted to announce the return of our popular Goose Watch events at SOC's HQ at Waterston House. As these events are always in high demand, we kindly ask that participants book either the evening talk on 6 October or the morning walk on 21 October, rather than both. This will help ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to take part. Further information about the evening talk, including a booking link, can be found here.
Morning walk: Wednesday 21 October, 7am - 9am
From early September, Pink-footed Geese start to return from their breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland, and many will break their journey in East Lothian before heading further south to overwinter. The sight and sound of thousands of geese over Aberlady Bay is a spectacle not to be missed, and is one of the autumn highlights of the reserve.
We'll be joined for an early morning walk by John Harrison, the Warden of Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve. We'll meet at Waterston House at 7am before walking down to the shore to watch for groups of Pink-footed Geese leaving their overnight roost and heading out to surrounding fields to feed. (Surfaces will be tarmac and well-made paths, and total walking distance may be around a mile.) We'll then head back to Waterston House where tea and coffee will be served. During the morning, John will give an insight into the ecology of Pink-footed Geese, share tips on how to identify them from other goose species found in the area, and explore how their numbers have changed over the past few years.
While this event has been timed to coincide with the peak in migration, nature can be unpredictable and varies year on year, so it'll be interesting to see how numbers compare to previous autumns. You may wish to bring your own binoculars, but if you don't have any we will have a few pairs for loan. We aim to finish the event around 9.00am.
Places are limited to 20 so book early to avoid disappointment!
Cancellations policy
SOC reserves the right to cancel or postpone any of its Goose Events due to unforeseen circumstances. In this scenario, a full refund will be given. We regret that if a participant cancels their booking, we are unable to offer a refund due to scheduling and resource commitments. However, if you are unable to attend, you are very welcome to transfer your booking to a friend or family member.
For directions to Waterston House, please visit our Getting Here and Opening Hours page.
