Greylag Goose behaviour (1 Viewer)

At Pulborough Brooks on Saturday morning I watched some flocks of Greylags coming into land on the North Brooks, and I noticed that as they all were coming in to land, many or most of the individual birds would momentarily flip over so that they are for-all-intents-and-purposes flying upside down for a second.

It does look quite odd, especially when they're coming in a direction towards you! But I was wondering if anyone knows what they're doing when they do this? Is it a signal to the others saying "ok chaps, time to land for tiffin!", or is it a way of slowing down as I did notice that that action does seem to slow the individual down?

Thanks

This is known as Whiffling and is a way of rapidly loosing height and i guess slowing down when coming in to land its quite common amongst Geese and I've seen Ducks do it aswell particulary Shelducks.

Many thanks Adam. Whiffling - that's my word of the day today! :t:

I see Canada Geese "whiffling" regularly on this side of the water. It can be quite entertaining to watch sometimes, particularly in the winter when followed by sliding on the ice of frozen ponds.

I find it is more commonly displayed when the Geese have a smaller area to land on.

CB