BBC Autumnwatch keeps tabs on Caerlaverock Barnacles

Oct 9 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

THIS YEAR BBC Autumnwatch is featuring the amazing story of the Svalbard barnacle geese.

WWT education officer at the centre Brian Morrell said: “These small geese migrate from their breeding grounds in the High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to winter on the Solway, a journey of some 3,000km.

“Last week on Autumnwatch, we saw Simon King in Svalbard, caught in a blizzard, watching the geese fly south at the start of their epic journey.

“He will also be following the progress of the three geese carrying satellite transmitters, Glen, Google and Valiant.

“There will be more updates on the show this week and then Simon will broadcast live from WWT Caerlaverock on Friday, October 16, between 9-10pm.

“This week we counted 16,000 barnacle geese at Caerlaverock, over half of the total population, a true autumn spectacle, the huge flocks of geese newly arrived from the Arctic. Why not come to see why the BBC and visitors from all over Europe flock to WWT Caerlaverock every autumn? We are open every day from 10am to 5pm, a great way to spend a day in the October holidays.”