Brent Geese

This little party of Light-belled Brent Geese were on the shore in front of my house this afternoon. It's not the best of photographs, but it is clear enough to demonstrate how you tell first-year birds from adults! The youngsters have narrow white edgings on their wings, which the adults lack. When they first arrive in the autumn, the youngsters also lack the white "collar" on the neck, but it soon appears, as it has done on these birds. So, from left to right: young, young, young, adult, young, adult, adult, young.
Malcolm