Stunning photos show flock of pink-footed geese in Norfolk

Flocks of pink-footed geese are one of Norfolk's great wildlife spectacles, and a defining bird species of the north-west of the county in winter.

Pink footed geese taking flight from Cley Marshes at sunrise.

Tens of thousands of the birds arrive every winter, with more large flocks also found in the Thurne Valley in the Broads.

The geese breed in Iceland and return to Norfolk each autumn. By the early spring, they have left.

Pink footed geese taking flight from Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Norfolk Wildlife Trust says some of the best viewpoints to see the geese flying in and out of traditional roosts at dawn and dusk at the Snettisham RSPB reserve, and on the coast at Brancaster, Wells-next-the-Sea and Cley.

In particular, the Washington hide at Hoklham is a great viewing point.

Pink footed geese taking flight from Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

They are most commonly spotted at sunset or sunrise between November and February,

Pink footed geese on Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese on Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Reeds at Cley Marshes. (Image: Archant 2021)

Reeds at Cley Marshes. (Image: Archant 2021)

Reeds at Cley Marshes. (Image: Archant 2021)

Sunrise at Cley Marshes. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese taking flight from Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese on Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese taking flight from Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese taking flight from Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese taking flight from Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese taking flight from Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese taking flight from Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese on Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese on Cley Marshes at sunrise. Picture: Danielle Booden (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese on Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)

Pink footed geese on Cley Marshes at sunrise. (Image: Archant 2021)