Brant Geese Sing the Coastal Song of Winter

Brants stay pretty close to shore, but as soon as I arrive at the beach they move away. They are camera shy.

While most birds fly south for the winter, the brants are hearty enough to move in.  It is difficult to imagine anything choosing to spend the coldest months of the year sitting in the water off Cape Cod, but brants are abundant now, especially at the end of West Dennis Beach in West Dennis where the breakwater makes way for the boats.  

Sorry for the fuzzy shot. I had to zoom way in with my little point and shoot to show you their color pattern

It's rather marshy at low tide at this remote stretch of sand and dune.  Brants favor eel grass and I can only assume they're finding it here because as soon as I arrive to walk my dogs I see dozens of the beautiful, formally dressed brants.  Everything looks a little more respectable in black and white and the brants wear their tuxedos with style. 

Nice butt shot. Thanks a lot! As soon as I want to take their picture they drift away, but you can see how pretty are their markings.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, brant's on the east coast wear different colors than their brethren of the Pacific.  The Atlantic brants have light gray bellies with white tails while the Pacific Coast geese have black bellies.  At one time scientists thought they were a separate species.

 I shot a little video at the beach today.  It's 35 seconds of brants and breaking surf at the shore and a random gull too.  It's rather peaceful.  I hope you like it.