RSPB Dungeness Accommodation

Autumn Arrivals – A Living, Feathered Arrivals Board

The UK’s autumn migration is one of nature’s great spectacles. Although we could list hundreds of species, here are some of the highlights that delight visitors year after year.
Arrival timings vary slightly each season, but these offer a good guide to what you can expect.

Swans From the Frozen North

As northern wetlands freeze, two striking species of swan choose our gentler climate for the winter months. Both have elegant yellow and black beaks—unlike our familiar Mute Swan with its orange and black bill.

Whooper Swans
Arriving from Iceland, these impressive birds are easily recognised by their bold calls—loud, musical “whoops” echoing across winter wetlands.

Bewick’s Swans
Breeding in the vast, icy tundra of Siberia, Bewick’s Swans traditionally spent winters in southern England. Recently, milder conditions on the continent have encouraged some to remain in northern Europe, but many still grace the UK with their presence.

Gaggles of Winter Geese

Winter brings magnificent gatherings of geese, travelling vast distances to take advantage of our milder weather and food-rich landscapes.

Pink-footed Geese
Perhaps the most famous winter visitors, with up to 90% of the world’s population choosing the UK. They arrive from Iceland, Greenland and Norway, settling in huge flocks across key coastal plains and farmlands.

Barnacle Geese
These charming black-and-white geese migrate from the Arctic, favouring our northern coasts. Their name comes from an old legend that they hatched from sea barnacles—a myth born from a time when migration was still a mystery.

Brent Geese
Small, dark and energetic, Brent Geese are regular winter guests on saltmarsh and coastal grasslands. Different populations travel extraordinary distances—from Russia, Canada, and Svalbard—arriving each year to feed and shelter in the UK’s protected estuaries.