Good news from Slamannan

On Friday 24th after a wait of many hours a small team managed to catch 5 bean geese. We have not managed any catches the last two years so this was a good team effort.

We are indebted to Derek Hunter and family at Luckenburn Farm for their cooperation in allowing us access to their fields.

We caught 3 adult males and two adult females.

All birds are in good health after being caught and transmitters now sending back location information.

Tag numbers are as follows: 18, 20, 24, 27 and 39

In addition to collars all birds have small white tags on their right legs to help with identification

The catch team l to R : Carl Mitchell, Larry Griffin, Richard Moore and self taking the picture.

Bean Goose Update

Nothing in particular to report other than a roost count near Slamannan yesterday confirmed that we have c200 birds in the area.

A flock of up to 100 Pinkfeet have found the wheat field at Hillend Farm next to the River Avon. The crop has only been partially cropped leaving plenty of food for geese. Flooding in the field too has made it difficult for the farmer to harvest.

No sign yet on the plateau of wintering thrushes (Fieldfare & Redwing)

Tag30 above 

Tag30 is still an active tag and reports several times a day on its location. It was an adult female when caught in 2015 and still gives us very good information on a daily basis on its whereabouts.

Fresh Update on the Slamannan flock

Their has been an increase in recent days with approx 200 birds now on the plateau.

Feeding so far has mainly concentrated near to Slamannan with odd forays to Beam Farm.

Note:

Can I remind birders not to enter fields or irritate farmers by blocking roads near farm steadings. At Luckenburn Farm please do not park in the main track to the farm. So far this winter the geese have not been seen at Luckenburn.

Your help in these matters are appreciated.

News update on Autumn Migration 2019

Tag30 and probably a flock arrived in Co Durham at 0100 this morning and promptly reoriented themselves to fly to Slamannan by 1600 hrs. Flight maps below: Unbelievable migration flight.

Latest news from tag30 in Norway

Hot off the press today. Tag30 has left the stopover place near Oslo and is now on its way to Slamannan.

It is possible given the winds today that it may arrive tonight or early tomorrow. It all depends on how the northerly winds affect the North Sea crossing and where they landfall in the UK.

Attached map shows location at 1000 this morning.

Latest picture from Simon in Norway

Our flock continue to stay around the Akershus area north east of Oslo and on the Glomma river area. Simon on his own blog has now changed his flock total from 144 to 142 birds.

Simon is now off up north looking for migrants so we wish him well on his birding trip.
Latest picture of the bean geese on the Glomma River below. Courtesy of Simon.

Whilst awaiting our bean goose flock to arrive there is plenty activity in and around Gardrum Moss with a large flock of Pinkfeet c800 birds in the area. They have been feeding locally and around the northern side of Bathgate often near the A801 near Torphichen

Canada Geese too are present in and around roost time on the Gardrum Moss and Loch Elrig area.

I would be pleased to hear of any reports you have on dates and numbers of these species.

Please email to me at angus.maciver184@gmail.com

Latest Update from Simon in Norway

Simon has been out and about looking for our bean goose flock and has found a total of 144 on the Glomma River in Akershus in the part of the river system where our birds arrive in springtime. It is not normal for them to call in here on the way south. I attach a couple of pics courtesy of Simon to let you see where they are feeding and on the river system itself.

Migration Update on Slamannan flock courtesy of Simon Rix (Oslo Birder)

More good news in today from Simon. He located a flock of 98 Bean geese and was able to read some collars.

Tag30 , 04, 3Y, S8, 6U.

Pictures attached courtesy of Simon Rix.

 Tag04 inset Yellow tag on left leg.

Update today on Tag30 autumn movement

Great news today on the movement of Tag30 who has moved south towards the Glomma river northeast of Oslo. Map attached.

News today of Tag30 in Sweden

Dear Bloggers

Great news today from Sweden. After an absence of information during the breeding season Tag30 has come alive near Storbo, Sweden.

Great that the tag is still working and hopefully stay charged during the migration period which is not far away now.

I attach a picture of the present locality of the bird for information.

Update on Tag30 in Sweden

I attach a map of an area in Dalarna County in Sweden where it appears that this female is sitting on a nest. This is good news and hope that she comes back in October with a new family.

Tag30 final spring movement 2019

Tag30 moved north to Dalarna County in Sweden on 22 April. We would presume the rest of the flock that have been with it will also have now moved to their breeding sites in Sweden. It is likely they will have been joined with the other flock of our birds from the Brosjon lakes area in Sweden

I will not be issuing any further maps of our birds whilst they are in the breeding area so as to ensure their privacy and security whilst breeding.

I will notify you if any confirmed breeding has taken place this year.

Tag30 Migration movement update 14 April 2019

Great news today. Tag30 has made a 3.1/2 hour flight to the north on its spring migration to Dalarna County in Sweden

It left the Akershus area at 0830 this morning and by 1100 had reached the little town of Braskereidfoss which is situated on the Glomma River system and not too far away from the Swedish border.

I attach two shots below of the flight lines. The second map shows the area in relation to Oslo.

We got a good movement thanks to Larry Griffin for changing the times on his collar tag to 30 minute locations. Well done.

Latest news of Tag30 in Norway

I have been watching the movements of this bean goose and probably others in and around Akershus Norway.

This is a major site in their northerly migration towards Dalarna County in Sweden where our birds were re-introduced many years ago and now breed.

With weather still being cold with northerly winds reported by Simon Rix in Oslo our birds are staying in and around the river Glomma as can be seen from the map below.

Keep up to date with Simons daily exploits in and around Oslo (oslobirder.blogspot.co.uk). You will not be disappointed with his daily wanderings and excellent shots of the species he reports on.

Update from Simon in Norway 27 March 2019

Simon has been out and about chasing up the bean goose flock and has reported on finding two different flocks.

I suggest you look at his blog which gives good details of his sightings and some nice shots of a selection of birds.  www.oslobirder.blogspot.co.uk

Sample below courtesy of Simon

News update on Tag30

Tag 30 has moved back to Akershus and hopefully is part of a flock of  bean geese. Not heard from Simon recently but still a lot of snow in his area of Oslo.

Screen shot below shows the movement of Tag30 on the Glomma River.

News from Pandrup north Denmark

Great news today that tag30 has come back online after an absence.

Map below shows its present position. 21 March 2019

Also a recent picture from Lake Brosjon Sweden with one of our pairs seen recently.

Pandrup north Denmark

V6 and 7T (pair)

Update 12 March 2019

No new satellite information today on whether the flock has reached Denmark.

Below is new picture showing the total movement recently from the Glomma River east of Oslo

News about the Slamannan flock 11 March 2019

Our birds have decided life in Norway at this time is too cold and food scarce so have returned south to Denmark. Confirmation of that later hopefully,

See new map below.

Taiga Bean Geese flock move south

Tag 30 has shown a movement well to the south to an area used in previous springtime movements.

Snowy weather in the north has no doubt made the flock move to a better feeding area.

Migration News Spring 2019

It has been an interesting past few days for our bean goose flock and I have been gathering information from various sources to tell you what has been happening.

The last group of birds I saw (22) were on the 18th February near Parkhead but a movement was made on the 15th by probably around c100/150 birds.

Tag30 has come back online and gave us information of this movement.

Timings are:

15th February 0600 Slamannan
                        0700 left Slamannan and headed east for Denmark via the Forth Estuary.
                        1900 approx. arrive Denmark (flight around 12/13hrs)

01 March 1600 - left Pandrup Denmark
02 March midnight halfway across the sea to Sweden By 0600 they were recorded inland north of Highway 164 flying in a northerly direction.

02 March 1200hrs arrived Akershus Norway on the Glomma River sandbank which is the usual staging area NE of Oslo.

Pictures below show weather in the north sea during the movement and tracking data for tag30.

Picture at Akershus courtesy of Simon Rix. (oslobirder.blogspot.co.uk) visit Simon's blog for an update on information and new pictures of this flock.

 Above - Calm winds in North Sea 

Above Tag30 track on 15 March

Glomma River Akershus

Picture courtesy Simon Rix

Latest news update from Slamannan

A visit yesterday found 22 bean geese west of Oakerdykes Farm. Today that small flock were not present in the same field.

Nothing else seen around Slamannan itself so if birds are still present they will possibly hiding somewhere in the north of the study area.

Further visits will be made to assess spring movements to Denmark. Sadly we have no 'live' collar to assist us this spring.

West Fannyside loch (roost site)

Update of News from Slamannan

A visit yesterday pm found c100 birds in view although many of them distant. Later a visit to two roost sites confirmed that the whole flock are still on the plateau and not yet moved to Denmark.

Attached picture shows some of a small flock with two Pinkfeet at the front. Note the difference?

News update from a cold/icy Slamannan

Most of the bean geese have been spending recent times in the northern sector of the winter area. Garbethill and Beam farm have seen the flocks in recent days.

Several days ago I had a group of 33 birds near Parkhead so not a lot of Taigas to see.

A flock of c300/400 Pinkfeet have been seen recently in the upper Avon Valley south of Strathavon Farm.

News from Slamannan Plateau

I have been out of action for a few weeks now due to having broke my wrist on one of my forays on the plateau.

Thankfully I am now on the mend and back driving again.

Was out this morning to the north of the area at Lochgreen but the birds had not arrived at that location today.

In general they have been present just to the north east of Slamannan or along past Oakerdykes for some weeks now.

The flock is well split up as is usual for this time of the year.

Roosting is taking place on one of the water bodies on Darnrig Moss or at Fannyside.