Fresh Update from the Slamannan Plateau

 We now have a flock of 210 birds this winter which is very similar to the 207 we had last year. 

Some better weather on the 17 Dec gave us the opportunity to search for juveniles within the flock. With the help of Carl Mitchell (WWT) we searched a flock of 115 birds near the Dyke Farm and identified 7 juveniles out of 98 birds.

Later in the morning we searched a further flock of 80 birds and identified a further 13 juveniles out of 69 birds within the flock. 

Brood sizes for all counted was 1,1,1,2,2,3,2,1,2,1,1,2,1 = 20 juveniles in total out of 167 birds aged which equates to 12% an average count for our wintering flock of Taiga geese over the past 20 years.

The flock remains in two distinct groups this winter and probably reflects the two variable migration routes when they leave Denmark in the early spring on their migration routes north via Norway and Sweden.

Again this winter the birds use of the field systems available to them highlights their love of being difficult to see when they use fields with plenty of camouflage which obviously gives them a sense of security. 

It has been noticeable with Covid 19 in the environment that visiting birders have been very few this winter and it is sad that you have lost the opportunity to see this lovely goose in its winter quarters. 

I attach a picture for you to enjoy the birds in one of the fields I have described above. 

We still have the ability to monitor six of our tagged birds although at this time of the year their batteries often don't have enough charge to tell us where they are. 

Two of our birds caught last year are still showing in Denmark so it definitely looks like they are short stopping this winter and not coming across. 

News update on the Bean Geese flock at Slamannan

Most of the lock have been visible to the north of Slamannan and best viewed from the playing fields car park just near the Primary School

They are best viewed through a scope as the distance is great and binonculars don't do them justice.

We still have some of our GPS tags working although dull weather has been a problem recently. 

There are still two of our tagged birds in Denmark where it is beginning to look like they will stay there this winter. 

A few pics courtesy of Chris Batty

News Update on bean geese flock at Slamannan

Good visibility today gave us the opportunity to check up on the flock status. With our birds out in the open and away from long vegetation it was the ideal time to get a better idea of our true flock total.

With the help of one of our team (Billy Thomson) we counted two flocks late pm today. One was of 60 birds and the other 120, giving us the grand total of 180 birds.

This still leaves us short of last years total of over 200 birds but an improvement over recent counts.

Recent pics of our birds below.

News Update on Slamannan Taiga Bean Geese

 There has been no increase in the flock numbers since last commented on. For some weeks now the Slamannan flock have been feeding in a field which conceals many of the birds when trying to count them. Very frustrating for anyone trying to get a handle on numbers but typical of the birds that they can hide from view quite easily in the field vegetation. 

Within the last day or so a small group of Canada Geese were also present with them which is quite unusual. 

Our birds in Denmark still seem to be happy to stay where they are so we will just have to wait and see if that changes. Below is a map which shows their position near Thisted.

News update on bean geese flock at slamannan

 There does not seem to have been any increase in our flock size since last reported at being a maximum estimate of 126
We do know however that two of our birds that were caught at Slamannan last October (Tag 39 & 20) are still in Denmark near Thisted and are in a flock of 300 taiga bean geese. This flock includes an adult white fronted goose which was seen in Sweden at Lake Brosjon during the autumn migration period. 

As we have suspected in the past and have some evidence of it occurring some of our birds are liable to stopover in the low countries. Colder weather conditions however may make them cross over into the UK.

Attached are two pics taken this winter on the plateau.

The bean goose flock has increased in size since last post

 A visit to the plateau on 16 October confirmed that an intake of more birds had arrived in from Norway. Two flocks in different areas gave us a total of approximately 126 birds.

We still have two tagged birds 39 & 20 still in Denmark and looking like they may not return unless perhaps weather gets much colder.

Birds are present north of Oakersdyke to the north of Slamannan but not showing well due to vegetation in the field.

First flock of the winter have arrived on the Slamannan Plateau

 After several negative visits to the plateau in recent days, this morning's visit paid dividends. 

With the sun overhead, I arrived at 1045 to find a flock of bean geese in a location to the north of Slamannan.

My first quick count through my scope said 54 on my counter but after several re-counts, I was pleased to see that 75 birds were present. 

Surprisingly there no collars to be seen which was disappointing. Due to the distance involved no leg rings were identified either. 

Billy Thomson a co bean goose enthusiast who was already in the vicinity at Fannyside Lochs joined me to view the birds.

We returned after 1800 to see which direction or place they had selected to roost at, but heavy rain and poor visibility at 1915 hrs put paid to that.

Picture courtesy of Derek McGinn

Update on Bean Geese in Norway

 Simon Rix has been out looking at the bean geese again yesterday and has published some nice pictures on his blog. (oslobirder.blogspot.co.com) I attach one courtesy of Simon. T8 is well known to us as Simon mentions. 

It is well worth looking at his blog to get a real flavour of birding in and around Oslo at this time of the year. You will not be disappointed.

A pictorial view of where the two flocks of bean geese are at present

 

Update of News from Norway

 Information received from Simon Rix in Norway today confirms that we have a flock of 101 Bean Geese in his area awaiting their final move to Scotland at the end of the month. 

In conjunction with the previous news from Sweden courtesy of Dan Managsbo that they have a flock of 146 birds east of Saffle and the Lake Brosjon location means that we have an approx. total of 247 bean geese ready to winter with us. 

However there is speculation that some of these birds may decide to stay across the north sea in places like Denmark. 

A few of our tagged birds are in both flocks with some juveniles already identified which is helpful at this stage as to what breeding success the birds had in their breeding areas to the north. 

Update on autumn migration

 Fresh news in and confirmed today that Tag27 has arrived on the Glomma river NE of Oslo at 1100hrs.

This is a usual stopping over spot and there will more than likely be a flock here now. Hopefully Simon Rix (oslo birder) will have picked up this information and manage out to see the beans.

Picture of Glomma River location NE of Oslo

Pic of 27 when caught last year.

Fresh Update on Autumn Migration 2020

 News has come in from the area of Lake Brosjon in Sweden of a flock of 146 Bean Geese with four broods of juveniles. 

Of interest to us is that a goose which has not been seen in Scotland since April 2014 (Tag16) is present with a female and four juveniles. (Photo attached courtesy of D. Mangsbo) This bird has lost its original collar but can be identified with the blue ring on its left leg.

This bird has obviously been wintering across the North Sea (possibly in Denmark) which is something we have thought possibly occurs. It would account for our winter bean goose totals fluctuating each winter. 

Fresh Update on Autumn Migration 2020

 Tag27 has also appeared in a southerly location and is north of Oslo. Attached map shows present situation of our birds today.

Autumn Migration has began for 2020

 Several of our birds Tags 20, 39 and 24 have all moved south in Sweden but returned north to Lake Brosjon near Saffle. See picture of movement below.

Late spring/summer news from Sweden

We thought one of our females (39)was on a nest and looked like breeding this year. Sadly after some time in one locality, the weather turned distinctly wintry with fresh snow in the breeding area which probably put an end to that.

In recent weeks 39 and 20 have been in close company throughout their travels just to the north of where the other birds are so they seem to be well bonded.

We have had five collared birds still giving us information on their locations but today three of them have disappeared off the radar. Hopefully, they are well and just lost transmission ability temporarily.

New migration update 18 April 2020

As we had hoped and expected tag39 has made the journey north to join up with its mate Tag20.

A screenshot from the tracking website shows the two birds in close proximity.

Tag20 purple Tag39 yellow

Fresh Update on Spring Migration 2020

There has been a movement north of the male bird Tag20. After being at Saffle in Sweden for some time it has now moved north to the general breeding of our birds in Dalarna County Sweden.

 

Hopefully, its mate Tag39 will join it before too long.

This bird has moved into an area south of Tag24. 

Here is a couple pictures of what the breeding area can look like in Dalarna County

Typical breeding habitat

Bean goose pair on territory

News update on some of our Bean Geese

Just when we thought life at on the breeding areas in Sweden were in full swing our birds have decided probably that the weather is not suitable and have returned south to Braskereidfoss in Norway where they were earlier this month.

Tags 18 27 and 30 are all showing as being back south. Tag24 remains in Sweden but in a different location to where the others were.

Updated blog For 10 April 2020

Since yesterday there have been no movements of our birds to report.

In visiting my bean goose files on my pc today I had a look at some pictures that Simon Rix took last spring and thought I would share them and my thoughts with you today.

We have been extremely lucky in recent years that Simon in Oslo has found our bean geese in his birding haunts around Oslo. Not only does he report numbers and tag information but he supplies lovely pictures of the geese at the same time. I have looked out three of them today to share them with you with and of my recent thoughts about how geese behave as pairs and families.

One of the pleasures in recent years has been to monitor how pairs bond together and look after their juveniles in the early years. This is portrayed in one of the pictures below.
Bean Goose pairs stay together throughout their lives and when in Scotland during the winter it is normal to see pairs feeding together and rarely two metres apart. If they have juveniles of the year they too will be close by their parents which often is very useful when we try to work out how many juveniles we have within the flock. It has been noted at Slamannan, juveniles can often be seen with their parents in the 2nd year too before they eventually split up and move away to become young adults.

Earlier this year when visiting the RSPB reserve at the Crook of Baldoon near Wigtown at dusk I met up with some wildfowlers who were awaiting an appropriate time to go out on to the merse to shoot geese.

On reflection to what they do for sport/pleasure it made me think of what goes on in the mind of a wildfowler.

Why do they find it sporting/pleasurable to shoot one or more geese when the birds are flying in to and around a roost area. Do they ever think of the effect they have on a male/female goose who suddenly loses its partner to such a sudden death? Probably not and that makes me sad that humans can inflict such social anguish on this species.

Pictures below courtesy of Simon Rix.

4 pairs above (social distancing?)

A pair with one bird who had lost his collar. (note

metal ring on left leg)

Just a lovely picture

Update since yesterday on bean goose movements in Sweden

There have been further movements of our bean geese in the last 24 hours.

At Saffle in southern Sweden, we still have Whit20  UCOL 39 (Pair)

Now in Dalarna county, we have Whit 24,  UCOL 30, Whit 27 and Whit 18. We would expect the two birds still at Saffle to move north to the usual breeding areas.

Bean Goose website news:

We now have all of our Bean Goose reports including some Commissioned reports that have been completed in past years available now on the bean goose website

Please visit the website at https://sites.google.com/view/scotlands-bean-geese

The recent report for 2019/2020 covers in great detail all of what we think is important for the future health of our flock. I thank Brian Minshull and Rick Goater for their commitment and expertise in the producing of the reports in recent years.

I thank our webmaster Carl Mitchell of WWT who does all of the maintenance of the website in his own time.

Much of the knowledge on the migration of our flock has only been possible due to the wealth of information that the GPS tags have given us. These come at a cost of £1200 each. As you can imagine we do not have a steady source of income to purchase these and I would appeal to anyone be it an individual, wildlife group or company who would like to sponsor a tag to get in touch with me at angus.maciver184@gmail.com. Any amount small or large would be appreciated

Spring Migration Update

Two of our birds have made further progress in their migration. Tag Whit24 an adult male has moved further north in Norway from its previous position.

Tag18 a female has moved into Dalarna county in Sweden to the breeding area.

Other birds in Sweden near Saffle are still in the same location as before.

Whit 18 Adult female

Whit 24 Adult male

Bean Geese on the Glomma River to the north east of Oslo 28 March

Dear Bloggers

I thought this picture today would be of interest as it shows all the local movements of our geese over the past few days.

Bean Geese moving further north on their spring migration

Tracking data over the past few days has indicated that many of the birds in Norway have moved north to Brakereidfoss still on the Glomma River. They are tags 18, 24, 27 and 30.

Tags 20 and 30 remain in the general area of Saffle Sweden

I will update in future any positive information about our bean geese if it becomes available.

News update from Akershus Norway

Simon in Oslo has been out birding recently despite their country now being in a lockdown mode for visitors. Serious stuff and no doubt will affect their economy like elsewhere in the world.

Simon had a day out on 12 March looking at the bean geese and I recommend that you visit his blog (oslobirder.blogspot.co.uk) and check out his observations.

Accompanied with plenty of explanatory text are some super shots of the geese (many of them with collars attached).

His words gives you a real feel for what he does in his own patch. Not to mention his other posts of his Great Grey Owls including stunning pictures.

What a bird and how lucky you are to have such birds so close to Oslo.

Thank you Simon again for all of your fieldwork. You are a star.

Another twist in the spring migration story

I note today that Tag30 has left the other bean geese in Saffle Sweden and flown to Akershus Norway.

See map below and follow the red track.

We always thought the two groups were separate from each other but this proves this theory incorrect.

Bean Geese spring migration - Update 9th March 20

A flock of up to 140 birds have been seen at Horgen Norway.

The site is often used at this time of the year and I was there a couple of years ago with Simon Rix.

Simon has sent in this report and I am pleased to be able to show a few of his shots of the geese.

He also managed to record some collar details and the following list was sent to me:

S8, 27, 7U, 7V, 3Y and 04.

He also reckons that 18 is also present although not initially seen.  Pics below courtesy of Simon.

Update 3 March 2020

Another movement of our birds.

Status now:

Tag18 in Norway south of Akershus and looking to arrive there soon. A bit west of the Glomma River but will find its way to join up with Tag27.

Tag27 still at Akershus

Tag24 returned to Pandrup as we thought.

Tags 30 39 and 20 still around Lake Brosjon Sweden

Map for today.

News update on spring migration 2020

There has been some movement of our bean geese in recent days.

Tag 24 has decided that a recent snow fall at Akershus is not conducive to staying and has moved south into Sweden. Possibly thinking of a return to Pandrup in Denmark.

In the meantime Tag27 has moved from Denmark to Akershus.
Tag30 has moved from Denmark to Saffle in Sweden to meet up with other birds already there. (Note how he landed further north but turned south to staging area near Lake Brosjon)

See map below.

Whit 24 at Glomma River Akershus Norway

News in from Simon in Norway that 6 bean geese have appeared in the area. The usual sandbank that is used for roosting is under water due to high river levels.

He has seen one tagged bird but has not been able to read the collar yet.

I have visited the tag website tonight and can confirm that tag 24 is in that location.

Picture below of the Glomma river at Akershus (courtesy of Simon Rix)

New Update on Spring Migration 2020

Fresh news today shows that Whit 24 has moved from Pandrup Denmark to Akershus Norway.

see map below.

Whit 24 Adult male.

Update on Bean Geese in Sweden

We have received information on a flock of 118 bean geese that were seen last Saturday east of Saffle in a stubble field.

This flock will more than likely be a mixture of geese from different breeding groups coming together on a spring migration. It has been commented on how healthy these birds look and augers well for the breeding season to come.

Tags 39 and 20 are among them as can be seen from one of the shots below. Pictures are courtesy of Dan Mangsbo.

Fresh update on spring migration

Pleased to report that all of our birds caught and tagged in October 2019 are showing up in Denmark/Sweden

Tags 18, 27 and 24 are at Pandrup Denmark whilst Tags 20 and 39 are further north at Saffle in Sweden

There have also been an additional late sightings on the plateau of birds being seen

On 05 February 2 were seen at Oakersdyke and today 07th 1 was seen in the company of 80 Pinkfeet near Easter Jawcraig.

Only Tag30 is not showing so battery possibly low or having a rest. It has done this before in recent years.

Fresh Update on Slamannan- taiga bean goose flock

It would appear that all of our birds have left Slamannan. Nil seen of them over the past couple of days.

Unfortunately only three tags are showing. 20 and 39 still at Saffle Sweden but Tag18 has gone to Pandrup in Denmark where they normally stage when they leave Slamannan. See map below and a wee reminder of Tag18 (Ad female) when caught on 24 October 2019.

New Update from Saffle Sweden

The two tagged birds 39 & 20 have now joined up after being separated since Leaving Slamannan in early January.

Map attached shows the two birds in the same location NE of Saffle Sweden

Bean Geese: update: Tag20 now moved to Sweden

Further news this weekend. Tag20 has moved from its position in Denmark to almost join up with Tag39.

They would appear to be in different bays but not far from each other. Two maps attached to assist you with the new information.

New update on Tag39 in Sweden

We have managed to confirm that Tag39 is part of a flock of 33 bean geese which may well be part of our flock.

Very interesting to get this news from a fieldworker in Sweden. Thanks Don for your observations.

Today Tag39 and others? have moved back south. Map below. Reasons may be that they have insufficient food or decided to return to Pandrup in Denmark. Watch this space for future updates.

We have been unsuccessful in finding out if Tag20 in Denmark has others with him as it turns out to be an area that is well used by migrating geese and sounds like the Slamannan Plateau with undulating fields with plenty of contours where birds can hide from prying eyes. 

Early spring update on the Slamannan flock

We still have a one bird in Sweden, one bird in Denmark. There be others with them but no details have emerged as yet. A flock of c180 birds still in the Slamannan area.

There has been a constant stream of birders looking at the birds this past wee while and I would like to request that you don't 'love' the birds to bits. In otherwise give them some space to settle into feeding up for their migration to Denmark and beyond.

We have had plenty of photographs taken too which is always nice as long as you are using a telephoto lens and not encroaching to near the feeding birds. Attached tag picture as of today.

We have received a handsome donation this week to assist our group with the purchase of new tags.

At the moment tags cost in the region of £1200 which includes a years monitoring charges.

If you, or a group that you are involved with would like to consider something similar, please get in touch with me. Even a small donation can help with this type of project.

angus.maciver184@gmail.com

Happy birding in 2020

New update on spring migration of Tag 39

Just when we thought we had seen it all this bird has surprised us by heading off further north into south Sweden (Saffle) which is a staging post for part of the Slamannan flock.

Interestingly too we have had information from this area from someone known to our group that it was the first time in his memory that there was no snow on the ground at that location in January and temperatures so far above 0 deg celcius. Climate change indeed.

Tag20 remains where it landed further south in Denmark on 6th January (map Below)

New Update now on UCOL39.

It is perhaps no surprise that the presumed mate of Whit20 has now appeared further north at Pandrup the usual staging post for our flock when they depart Slamannan in the 2nd week of Feburary in recent years.

Possibly they left together on or around 8th Jan but became separated and Tag39 was not giving off information at that time. Perhaps we will be able to examine the fine detail later.

Another fascinating insight into the migration of our bean geese.

New map below showing the two birds and their positions in northern Denmark.

Fresh news on one of our recently caught birds. Whit20

On checking our tracking data at lunchtime today I find that Whit20 has taken itself (and perhaps some pals to Denmark) it is recorded at 0100hrs today and then at 0700hrs. It is showing to the west of lake 'Alvand' in a national park area. Map below.