GO WILD WITH ERIC PAYLOR

A SMALL dumpy goose is currently being spotted in various locations in Cleveland.

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one of our visiting brent geese was taken by Carolyn Farry

(Carolyn Farry)

It's the brent goose, a black and white winter visitor that has been seen lately on sites such as the Old Airfield at Marske and Bran Sands.

They have also been noted flying past Hartlepool Headland.

They are often spotted on the mudflats of the Tees Estuary but have started visiting inland fields in modern times and in the past have been seen as far inland as Scaling Dam.

On first sight, a brent goose is rather strange looking. They are only slightly bigger than mallards but are more upright with longer necks and black legs and bills.