September's Birds in Ashtead

Canada Geese Flying

You can tell it's autumn by the morning flights of Canada geese, sweeping southwards across the Common around dawn. There were over 100 of them this morning in several groups, all flying in V-formation and honking noisily, heading for the ponds in Ashtead Park and Barnett Wood Lane. It's characteristic behaviour at this time of year, following their late summer moult when they congregate in river estuaries. Introduced from North America in the 17th century and now well established throughout the UK, they're not everybody's favourite bird, but they're undeniably impressive when in flight.