Cold weather at Arctic drives geese south to Martin Mere

Oct 1 2007 by David Higgerson, Liverpool Daily Post

A NATURE reserve is experiencing an early population boost thanks to foul weather in the Arctic Circle.

Like millions of Britons who have headed to the Med in search of warmer weather after a bad summer, poor conditions in Iceland have sent thousands of Pink-footed Geese south looking for better conditions earlier than usual.

And as a result, Martin Mere WWT Centre, near Burscough, now has 18,000 Pink-footed Geese on the Mere, nearly 10 times as many as this time last year.

Experts say cold weather coming down from the Arctic Circle may be driving the birds south early.

Pink-footed geese migrate from Iceland to winter in the UK, and they should soon be travelling farther south, so the next couple of weeks may be the only time to see such a huge flock at Martin Mere.