Why thousands of pink-footed geese return to WWT Martin Mere each autumn
Tens of thousands of pink-footed geese are expected to return to WWT Martin Mere this autumn, after travelling from Iceland and eastern Greenland to spend the winter in Britain.
The geese breed and raise their young during the short Arctic summer, making use of long daylight hours and plentiful food. As temperatures fall, daylight fades and food becomes harder to find, prompting the birds to begin their migration south.
A journey across the North Atlantic
The trip to Britain is demanding. WWT Martin Mere says the geese can travel more than 800 miles, flying at an average speed of about 30 miles per hour. Some birds fly for around six hours before reaching the Faroe Islands, where they may rest and wait for better weather before continuing to the UK.
The full journey can take two to three days. The birds face difficult weather conditions on the North Atlantic, as well as the risk of collisions with onshore and offshore wind farms.
Once they reach Britain, many continue south along traditional routes between wetlands, estuaries, marshes and farmland. The same birds can return to familiar sites year after year, following routes used by generations of geese.
Why Martin Mere matters
Martin Mere offers the combination the geese need: open water for a safe overnight roost, space to rest and nearby farmland where they can feed. Up to 40,000 pink-footed geese may gather at the reserve at one time.
Flocks arrive throughout the day, while groups already at the reserve usually return to the mere at dusk. At dawn, they leave again in large skeins to feed in the surrounding countryside. Some birds may stay only a few days before moving further south.
Their calls can often be heard before the birds come into view. The sky can then suddenly fill with hundreds or thousands of geese twisting and turning together before landing on the water.
Goosefest 2026
WWT Martin Mere will celebrate the annual arrival with its first Goosefest, running from 5 September to 18 October 2026. The programme includes goose-counting workshops, guided walks, late-night openings and family activities.
The North West Bird Watching Festival will take place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, with guest speakers, exhibitors, photography workshops, bird-ringing demonstrations, guided walks and other wildlife activities. The weekend is sponsored by Sony.
Late-night openings will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays in October, giving visitors the chance to watch geese return to roost at dusk. Dawn Flight events are planned for 3, 10 and 24 October, when visitors can see the birds leave the mere at sunrise before breakfast.
A family goose trail, featuring designs by local schoolchildren, will also be set up around WWT Martin Mere and Burscough Bridge station. WWT Martin Mere is on Fish Lane, Burscough, Lancashire, L40 0TA.
