Dear Birders
Our taiga bean goose flock are behaving very much in a predictable way. Our total of c200 birds are well split up on most days with a major group of c100 birds being seen together but others in groups of small numbers up to c60. On occasions recently some pairs have taken their juvs off to a quite spot away from others.
Most of the feeding at present is centered around an area north of Slamannan with a variety of different fields being used on most days.
For the visiting birder it is a good start to the day to park up at the playing fields just to the west of the primary School. Here you can scan to the north, west and east to look for birds. A scope is invaluable for this. On the down side a large flock of Pinkfeet are also in the area at present and on occasions sharing a field with the bean geese. At this distance identification can be difficult especially if the weather is dull as the bean geese leg colours are not so evident.
If you are lucky you will sometimes find them or some by the roadside. On these occasions always stay in your car to observe. Getting out for a better view is fatal as you will simply spook the birds.
We also have up to 65 Canada Geese on the plateau often accompanied with a small group of Greylag. A couple of Barnacle Geese have been seen too often with the Pinkfoot flock. A small group of Whooper Swan have also visited the area just to the east of Hillend Farm where heavy rain has created some flooded pools.
Happy birding..
Angus
