News Update 22 February 2016

Another of our tagged bean geese (UCOL10) has come back online and confirmed that he is with his pals UCOL27 & UCOL29 who he was with when caught on 9 October 2015. All are still west of Pandrup North Denmark and feeding during the day in a large field system. Roosting has taken place locally on a lake or on the sea.

He is now wearing his second collar having lost his first one fitted in 2011. He does have a green ring on his right leg so easily identified.

I was out on the Plateau today and managed to find a small group of Whooper Swan who we don't often see. Picture below.

I attach two shots taken from the north edge of the Slamannan Plateau near Shieldhill Falkirk which shows nicely how high the area is where the bean geese winter. The area is over 200m in height.

                                           UCOL 10 Adult Male retrapped 9 October 2015

                                          Whooper Swans nr Balmitchell Farm Slamannan

                                       View North to the Ochil Hills from Shieldhill Falkirk

View North West to Trossachs from Shieldhill Falkirk

News Update from Pandrup Denmark

Another of our birds (ucol27) has signed in from Denmark and the flight information is remarkable. It confirms that our 'live' telemetry tagged birds were at the Fannyside roost at Midnight on the 9 Feb, left the roost and flew to Garbethill Muir and fed during the day. They then took off on their flight to Denmark probably in the evening in a strong westerly airstream (see below) which on arrival in Denmark put them approximately 50 miles north of their usual staging post. They then orientated themselves and by midnight on the  11 Feb had arrived at their usual haunt west of Pandrup.

                                              Weather and wind pattern for 9 Feb 2016

News of Bean Geese now in North Denmark

We now have confirmation that bean geese were still present at Fannyside Muir on the 9th at 0700hrs but not present there on the 10th. One of our live tagged birds (29) is now showing up in Denmark since the 11th so would indicate a movement between 9th/10th of Feb.

However there have been reports of some possible bean geese still around the Fannyside Muir area. Further observations are in progress.

This movement is the earliest recorded for springtime movements of our flock.

Bean Goose News 9 Feb 2016

I have been out the past two days but unable to see any bean geese, but some of them are still here as of yesterday.

Tracking data has shown them to be feeding in an isolated field which you cannot see from any of the minor roads that crisscross the plateau.

Still flocks of Pinkfeet in and around Slamannan.

I attach a shot taken the other day which I thought I would share with you. The sun shone that day so it was nice to get a  winter scene near Strathavon Farm Slamannan. Hope you like it.

News Update from Slamannan 3 Feb 2016

What a lovely day at last. Sunshine from dawn to dusk. Arrived on the plateau at lunchtime after spending the morning in Stirling. First port of call was a small field at Bandominie Farm that is sometimes favoured by groups of bean geese. Parked up and walked a short distance up a farm track being careful not to be seen by geese if they were in residence. Bingo, there they were a small flock of c40 birds. Managed to get a shot of them and see below for the scene.

Toured around after that but couldn't find any more bean geese but near Oakersdyke Farm observed a large flock of c700 Pinkfeet.  Picture below.

Afterwards visited Darnrig Moss to take in the scene of where some of our birds are now roosting. What used to be a small pond is now a lake and very suitable for geese to roost with adjoining fields suitable for night feeding as often happens. See Picture.

                                            flock of c40 bean Geese nr Bandominie Farm

                                                               Darnrig Moss Pool

                                               Flock of c700 Pinkfeet Oakersdyke Farm

News update from a windswept Slamannan Plateau

A visit yesterday to the plateau was rewarding even although the weather conditions made looking through binoculars or telescopes very difficult.

Two flocks of bean geese were found quite near Slamannan. One flock of c140 birds was seen south of Easter Jawcraig and the other of 73 birds seen near Shortrig. A flock of c80 Pinkfeet were also seen in conjunction with the largest group of bean geese. Two Pinkfeet were in amongst the flock of 73 bean geese.

With some blue sky evident during my visit it prompted me to visit the Fannyside Lochs area to see if any damage had been caused by the high winds and recent heavy rains. It all seemed as normal and the picture below gives one the view that the bean geese see when roosting in this area.

We often get visitors coming to see the bean goose flock and it is worth knowing that there is a local bed and breakfast at Easter Glentore Farm. (only 5 mins away from the roost area)

Elsie and Alistair Hunter have a nice property where they offer B & B and also a self-catering cottage which is attached to their farm steading.

You can contact them at 044 (0) 1236 830243 or mobile 07708 101765. You can visit their website at  www.easterglentorefarm.com