Update on Bean Goose flock at Slamannan

Recent stormy wet weather has not been good for keeping up with the Bean Goose flock.

However, flocks of between 20 and 60 have been seen near Slamannan. Some to the north of Dyke Farm below the skyline and others recently have been seen beside the River Avon just beside Hillend farm. This past week has seen this area to be flooded which often suits the bean geese as they can feed and roost in the same locality.

There has been a flock of c500 Pinkfeet seen near Strathavon Farm on the fields that slope towards the River Avon.

Can I remind birdwatchers that we try and not enrage farmers by entering their fields without permission. There is a lot of sheep in the area and it is wise not to disturb tups going about their business.

Trying to get close to bean geese generally means that you will spook the flock and repeated behaviour of this kind mean that they move off to quieter areas not to be seen again for many days.

Very frustrating for us who monitor the flock too. Please follow the birdwatchers code of conduct.

October Update on Bean Goose flock at Slamannan

I am pleased to report that a recent visit at Luckenburn found approximately 142 bean geese.

Today there was still a flock of c128 birds there and another large flock in the oat field north of Slamannan on the main road to Falkirk. (warning) to birders:: this field is right next to a bad bend on the road so you cannot stop here without leaving yourself in a dangerous position on this busy road. Better to park up in one of laybays just to the north of this site and walk to get a view of the geese. Be careful though as the birds are liable to see you and move.

Below at picture taken at Luckenburn recently showing the birds in an 'alert' mode. This type of behaviour can certainly aid a count at the time.

Below a picture taken near Oakersdyke which shows how bean geese can utilise Juncus in a field to hide themselves whilst still finding food.

Update for autumn 2018

The flock at Luckenburn reached a figure of 164 birds on 4 October.

After this date the farmer at Luckenburn had to spread dung on his fields which resulted in the birds moving away to the east nearer Slamannan.

A flock of possibly up to 180 birds was seen on the 10 October in a oat stubble field on the main road from Slamannan to Falkirk.

As the birds had used this field on several occasions around this time we attempted to catch a small number of birds but were unlucky and the birds did not cooperate. However we hope to try again before too long if a suitable location can be found.

The use of the oat stubble was interesting as recently we had a visiting ornithologist from Umea in  north east Sweden who also studies a flock of taiga bean geese. In his area such stubble fields are used extensively by bean geese and he commented that it would be interesting if our 'beans' do the same thing this winter. We now know that to be the case and this scenario may well assist our wintering birds. (picture below of birds in the stubble field)

The bean geese have arrived at Slamannan for winter 2018/2019

Hi all

The current flock probably arrived on the 25/26  September as they were located on site at Luckenburn on the 27th.

A visit on the 1 October gave lovely views of a flock of 140 geese.

As we have one live GPS collar (Tag30) we were able to follow the flight from southern Norway down the North Sea to the coastal area on the east coast around Eyemouth. They quickly changed direction to their usual wintering grounds near Slamannan.

I have managed to read some collars: 6X, 7V, S8, 6Z, 3Y, Tag4 (yellow ring on left leg),
Tag30 and its mate 6U.

Note: Birdwatchers beware of parking on the main road at Luckenburn as it is a busy through road between Greengairs and Slamannan. On no account should you park in the road leading to Luckenburn Farm. A safer place to park is at Shielknowes road end and observe the geese from there. On no account enter any of the fields occupied by the geese.

News of Tag30 in Norway

The time has come to open up my winter blog on the bean geese flock that visit the Slamannan area in Falkirk.

Tag30 has recently made a flight south from the Glomma River north of Akershus and is now just north of Vigeland south Norway. (see picture below) I am sure the next spell of suitable weather will see our flock move to Scotland.

We have been able to recover the GPS collar 27 that was used last year after the bird was killed by we think a Golden Eagle.

We had a visit  recently from Adriaan de Jong from Umea in northern Sweden who studies another flock of Taiga Bean Geese.

We showed him around the Slamannan area and had a very interesting discussion on the type of farming land that is available to our birds compared with his patch in north east Sweden.

Some good news from Sweden

I am pleased to say that after the death of Tag27 we now have some positive information that the female Tag30 has now come back online and is in fact just to the east of where Tag27 had been.

We now hope that she is settling down to breed in this area of forest and lakes.

I will update the blog in due course with further information when it comes to hand.

Sad News from Sweden in recent days re Tag27

We have been following the exploits of tags 27 & 30 this spring as they moved through Norway en-route to their breeding grounds in Dalarna county Sweden.

Sadly it has now been confirmed that tag27 has died by natural causes. Predated by possibly either fox, lynx or taken by an eagle.

We have managed to recover the collar tag and it should be returned to us in due course. We must thank the chaps in Sweden who helped us find the remains of the bird.

I attach two pictures of its remains and the collar is clearly visible.

News Update on Tag27 and Tag30

Updated news from Pandrup Denmark is good as Tag30 has come back online and giving us information on its whereabouts.

It and presumably others are still west of Pandrup waiting to move north when the weather improves.
I have no information available on flock size at this location.

Tag27 is south of the usual staging post at Akerhus on the Glomma River. It is presently on the Glomma river South west of the town of Mysen. Flock size is possibly around 80 birds.

Further news will be posted when available.

News from Simon Rix in Norway today 21 March 2018

Hi all bloggers

Exciting news received from Simon in Oslo today.

Norway is experience very cold weather and lots of snow in and around Oslo. Never one to be deterred he took a trip to the Glomma River this morning.

Arriving at 0945 he found 11 bean geese at the rivers edge trying to feed on vegetation.

At 0958 this group were disturbed (not surprisingly) by a hunting White Tailed Eagle which took a fancy to one of them but didn't manage it.

By 1030 numbers of bean geese had gone up to 76 with 1 Pinkfoot in attendance

He was witnessing the movement from Denmark which we had been waiting on but unsure of when this would happen due to the extremely cold conditions in Denmark.

The arrival of birds was as follows - 11-13-15-16-76-78

Collars seen so far - 3Y, 7V plus 4 Juvs and probably T8, S8

His blog (oslobirder.blogspot.co.uk) will be updated soon with pictures and possibly a video clip of this arrival in Norway.

Latest update on Tag27 is that it is still in Denmark.

Update on Tag27 spring movement to Denmark

I now have an image of the migration track for Tag27 et al who moved to Denmark between 20/22 February.

You will see this is a more southerly route than Tag30 and no doubt was due to northerly winds blowing the birds south. As can be seen they soon re-directed themselves to Pandrup in Northern Denmark to join up with the others.

The weather in Norway and southern Sweden is similar to what we have had in the UK. Deep snow everywhere so the next step in their movement may well be delayed until the weather improves.

The red dot is Tag30's position and shows the Danish staging place.

Migration update 23 February 2018

Have had news today that Tag27 and probably 29 and family have now arrived at Pandrup northern Denmark.

Migration took place on 20/21 February 2018.

The end of another winter season of monitoring our bean goose flock.

I am due a visit to Norway in March where I hope to catch up with Simon Rix and hopefully our bean goose flock. More news around that time. I believe the weather in Norway is still very wintry so the bean geese may well delay their arrival on the Glomma River

update on todays movement from Scotland

Tag30 has made it to Pandrup as expected.

Brilliant flight.

News Update from Slamannan. Tag30 has departed for Denmark

Great news today. Tag30 and probably others have left Slamannan around 0700 today and will now be in Denmark. It would land to the south of the usual staging area in the north at Pandrup but as I speak it will probably be not far away.

I attach the migration information for your information.

It would appear that tag27 and more than likely tag29 are still waiting to move. More updates when information available.

Bean Geese at Slamannan

Many people come to look at the bean goose flock but perhaps do not realise that the beak patterns of our birds are varied in colour.

Most field guides show only a general pattern but it is more variable than generally thought

There are 4 different patterns of orange and black and also 4 different amounts of white around the face. That means 16 different overall patterns.

I attach a few pictures taken this past week courtesy of Kris Gibb which shows clearly these differences.

I will speak more about this later.

Bean Geese news from a misty Slamannan

Birds difficult to find today and only located at roosting time. One large group of c130 birds flew onto the ice covered East Fannyside Loch around 1700 and another group of c50 were seen on one of the ponds on Darnrig Moss.

Attached some pics taken yesterday courtesy of John Nadin.