We spent one and a half hours mid-afternoon watching the spectacle of several thousand Barnacle Geese grazing the meadows in front of the hide on Campfield Marsh RSPB Reserve and what a sight it was! On this icy day with a galeforce westerly wind blowing, the flock were spread out over the grassland, contentedly grazing and sheltering from the brunt of the gale out on the Solway Estuary. Half the flock took to the air, at one stage, as a nearby farmer's tractor came into view, but quickly settled down again to graze. The adjacent wetland pools were filled with good numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler and Pintail, not to mention six Whooper Swans who have been recent regular visitors to the Reserve. A Hen Harrier made an unsuccessful pass at the gathered Teal.