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Thousands of geese fill the skies of southern Scotland

Alex Hillier/WWT Dozens of barnacle geese fly towards the camera on the SolwayAlex Hillier/WWT
The number of geese wintering in the area has risen from a few hundred to more than 40,000

The skies of southern Scotland are being filled once again with thousands of geese arriving to winter on the Solway Firth.

One of the best seats in the house is offered at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's (WWT's) Caerlaverock centre.

The number of geese wintering there has grown from about 300 in the 1940s to more than 40,000.

A community art exhibition called The Never Ending Skein has even been created to celebrate the arrival of the birds.

The WWT was founded by Sir Peter Scott in 1948 and one of its key aims was to increase the number of wintering birds on the coastline.

The reserve offers a closer view of barnacle geese on the merse than any other reserve on the Solway Firth.

Peter Jordan/WWT Barnacle geese, about a dozen in total, fly from left to right in typical V formation. They have black necks, white faces and grey and black wings against a light blue cloudy sky.Peter Jordan/WWT
The reserve offers a chance to get a closer look at the barnacle geese

The panoramic views of the historic Saltcot Merse Observatory show the prominent hill Criffel, the Lake District fells in the distance, as well as the thousands of barnacle geese.

Among the geese, birdwatchers can also see hen harriers and marsh harriers, which have recently started breeding on the reserve.

Caitlin Wells Two people hang up large decorated sheets in a wooden bird-watching hide with lots of windowsCaitlin Wells
An art exhibition is in place celebrating the arrival of the geese

The art exhibition forms part of the annual Wild Goose Festival, hosted and produced by the Stove Network in Dumfries.

The festival aims to celebrate the cultural significance of the migratory barnacle geese that have been coming to this specific area since the mid-20th Century.

Alex Hillier/WWT Barnacle geese flying in large numbers across the skyAlex Hillier/WWT
A wide range of other wildlife can be seen at Caerlaverock

WWT Caerlaverock is a 1,400-acre (560ha) nature reserve on the Solway Firth.

It has been designated as a dragonfly hotspot by the British Dragonfly Society due to its habitat, which provides a haven for a diverse range of species.

Georgie Pope/WWT A view at dusk across the Solway with trees and water and hundreds of birds in the yellowing sky aboveGeorgie Pope/WWT
The entire population of Svalbard barnacle geese migrate to the Solway in the autumn

The entire population of Svalbard barnacle geese migrate to the Solway in the autumn, and thousands of water birds spend the winter on the reserve.

One of the best wildlife watching sites in the UK, it also has the most northerly UK population of natterjack toads and one of only three UK populations of tadpole shrimps.

Georgia Pope/WWT Another view of geese flying in large numbers across an evening skyGeorgia Pope/WWT
An annual festival celebrates the return of the geese