Update on Slamannan Bean Geese flock

 We have at least 49 birds left at Slamannan after further movements of our birds to Denmark within the last week. 

A birder in Denmark reports a flock of 130 bean geese at Pandrup including our marked birds V6 and 4 gps tags 20, 18 27 and 39.

Weather outlook for the area for early February is very cold with temperatures below zero. 

Will be interesting to see if they make any movements during that period. 

This early movement of our flock is confirming how our flock are reacting to weather temperatures and patterns. 

We still have two tags showing at Slamannan which is helpful for locating our birds. 

Update from Slamannan 24 January 2021

Cold sunny weather today made it an ideal forecast to visit the area, take some winter shots and look for the bean geese. 

After a one hour search I found a flock of 83 birds just to the north of Oakersdyke Farm. Viewed the birds from a good distance through a scope but too far away to read any collars. 

Attached a few photographs taken during the visit to give you a general view of what can be seen here during the winter months if you have luck with the weather. We are now coming to the end of the wintering season here for our birds so will be keeping an eye on tracking data over the next week. Our other two birds are still showing from Pandrup in Denmark. 

Update from Denmark

 Fresh update today would indicate that our birds have moved north again to Pandrup and have been joined with one of our tagged birds (V6) who was last seen here on 17th December. This movement  would perhaps give us the answer why in recent weeks our flock total has decreased. Very early for birds to leave us for Denmark. 

V6 adult female when caught on 2013 is now part of a flock of 94 Bean Geese (including 39 & 20) at that location.

A report today from the Yare Valley in England reported 6 Taiga Bean Geese present.

Attached a new picture from Pandrup and secondly a nice picture taken by Simon Rix in previous years of the conditions our birds may well face this spring.

 

Fresh news from our two birds in Denmark

 On 3 January I spoke of our two birds beginning a spring movement north to Pandrup. Well they have had a change of mind and in the last couple of days have moved south again to near Thisted. 

This movement is probably weather related as cold weather is affecting a lot of us in Europe. 

The birds at Slamannan are coping well with all that the weather throws at them. See below for new map of the birds move in Denmark.

News update from Denmark

 The tracking data today has indicated that the two of our birds (39&20) that did not arrive in Scotland this winter have now moved northwards in a spring migration move.

Moving from Thisted to Pandrup. 

These two birds moved from Slamannan to Pandrup in early January last year so it is really interesting to see this behaviour again. Regardless of the cold weather in Denmark the urge to move must be strong.

See attached map.