Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis

Striking black and white goose; forming large flocks in favoured areas

Habitat: grassland and estuaries

Annual winter visitor to Britain, mostly in north Scotland and Ireland; feral populations also present in the UK

Small goose with grey and black upperparts, black breast and neck; white face and black bill

Walks and grazes in fields, takes off and lands on water and ground

Eats grass; flight strong and powerful

Nest is a lined depression near edge of cliff; breeds Greenland, Spitzbergen and Siberia

1 Brood June – July ; 3-5 white eggs