New update from Slamannan

 We now have received an update from Tag5 and it shows in depth the migration flight path from near Oslo to Slamannan on 27/28th September 2024.

The map below shows the complete route, below is the detail it gave us. Total flight time was 21.5 hrs.The birds left a roost lake c30miles SW  of Oslo at 0400 on the 27th.As tag5 neared to east coast it had been flying at 110kph but then dropped to 60-70 and always travelled just at wave height or up to 40m or so above. Came ashore at Whitby and then up country towards Keilder and then home to Fannyside Muir at 0130 on the 28th. There was a little pause at Burnhope Reservoir in Pennines for 30mins at 1900.

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Update information on Taiga Bean Geese at Slamannan

 After the arrival on 27th September of the flock of birds from Norway, it is now believed that we have had another arrival, possibly of more birds from the Swedish group that we saw during our visit in early September.  

Recent visits to the plateau would indicate that we now have c167 birds, which is about similar to the total we had last year. 

Unfortunately they are not showing well in daylight hours at present but feeding in a remote part of the plateau, cunning devils..

As is usual at this time of the year we would ask interested birders to adhere to sensible behaviour and not upset the farming community that we rely upon to care for our flock. Thank you..

Taiga Bean Goose flock has arrived in Scotland on 27th September 2024

 The flock of birds that we saw whilst in Norway have now arrived on the Slamannan Plateau.

The flew across the North Sea on 27th September, leaving the Norwegian coast near Loshavn at approximately 07.15, and were  offshore by 07.34.58. Flight details shown below show them heading for the coast near Sunderland/Middlesbrough at 12.35. Once onshore they turned north and flew north near Newcastleton and arrived at East Fannyside Loch to roost. 

They spent the following day feeding near Garbethill Muir and flew to roost again at 1932 hrs. Latest information today (29th) is that they flew again to previous location to feed, (see map below of migration flight) The system should backup in a day or two once batteries are recharged and hopefully be able to show you complete flight.

Report on the trip to Sweden and Norway to see the Taiga Bean Geese insitu.

 Our group visit to Sweden and Norway went well with no hitches in our travel arrangements or accommodation. 

The bean geese behaved well too with our first visit near Saffle on 3 Sep with our host Dan Mangsbo who has been monitoring the geese in Sweden for many years. 

After a drive of about 15 mins we arrived in an agricultural area with surrounding woodlands which gave us some cover to view the geese some few hundred meters away. The count flock of bean geese was 193 with approximately 200 Canada Geese close by in the same area. We were able to read collars,  X3 and V6. Nice too was to note approximately 18 juveniles. 

After about 15 minutes we left this first stop to go to Lake Brosjon (see map below) where Dan expected the birds would fly in at about 9.45am. 

Lake Brosjon is a super wetland area which is well used by migrating birds. Also in attendance was a Sea Eagle who was also there to keep a check on what the geese were doing.

Bang on 9.45 all of the geese flew into the lake with both flocks birds keeping there own natural distance on landing on the water. We stayed in this area for about one and half hours before retiring to a nearby cafe for lunch. It was really good that Dan was able to come and meet us and establish a good rapport for the future. (see photos below).

On leaving Saffle we drove 192 kms taking us 2hrs 37mins to Arns in  Norway so to be in easy reach of meeting up with Simon Rix (The Oslo Birder), who we were to meet the following day.

Dawn broke on the 4th and after breakfast set off to meet up with Simon our taiga bean goose man in Norway. Simon arrived on time and we soon set off to nearby Neskollen to view the bean geese who were in the area.

A flock of 95 birds were in a stubble field a few hundred meters from the roadside. With them were 10 Canada Geese. We managed to read collars 5, 27 and V8, all birds previously caught and ringed in Scotland. The weather which up till now had been good suddenly changed with heavy rain making it difficult to scope the birds. We didn't linger long and soon departed to a warm place for coffee. Great to meet up with Simon again and reinforce our working relationship. (see pic below)

                    left to right, Carl Mitchell, Rick Goater, Dan Mangsbo, Angus Maciver, Brian Minshull

                                                      Simon Rix and Angus Maciver

With a new season nearly upon us it is my pleasure to give our readers an update on bean goose migration.

 We have information recently from Dan in Sweden that up to 176 Taiga Bean Geese have arrived in their usual place near Saffle in Sweden.

A few days later it was noted that the other flock had moved south towards another usual spot north of Oslo where Simon Rix reports on the birds as they move through his locality. 

On top of this five of our Bean Goose Advisory Group are jetting out to Sweden on Monday for a  four day trip to meet up with our contacts, Dan in Sweden and Simon in Norway. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for us to get together socially and bond with both Dan and Simon who  help us so much study this group of birds. 

I look forward in reporting back to you with hopefully some pics of the bean geese. 

News from Simon in Oslo

 As predicted our man in Norway, Simon has been out and found c100 bean geese, so that is great news indeed. He has a long distance shot taken on his blog (oslobirder.blogspot.com) of the bean geese. Some nice shots too of other species in his area. 

Update on spring migration of Tag5

 Tag 5 (blue marker has now moved north from its staging post near Pandrup in Denmark. The flight line shows its movement to north east of Oslo to its usual staging post at Akershus on the Glomma river system.

Simon in Oslo says it is still cold so hopefully our bean geese will find suitable feeding areas. 

I am expecting Simon to be out looking for our flock and reporting back as to individuals with collars and flock size. This information will probably appear on his own blog. (oslobirder.blogspot.com)

Tag39 (red marker) is still in Sweden near Saffle.

News update on tag39 migration to Sweden

 Tag39 has moved from Pandrup in Denmark to Saffle in Sweden as the next stage in its spring migration northwards. See attached picture.

Spring Migraton - Update of Tag5

 Since arriving in Denmark Tag5 has not been transmitting its position but that has all changed today with information received on its present whereabouts. 

I have produced a screen grab for you and it shows up both Tag5 (blue) and Tag39 (Red) in their present locations. Enjoy.

Spring migration of Tag5.

 On 4th January 2024 this bird flew east then was probably caught in  wind conditions unsuitable for flying to Denmark. The south easterly winds blew it north into Perthshire at Alyth where it then promptly turned back south via Dunkeld and arrived back at Slamannan by the 5th January. 

At 00.50 hrs it was roosting at a usual site on the plateau but at 01.30 hrs it flew off and headed east, flew past Linlithgow at 01.50.

By 02.45 still heading east crosses the coast south of Dunbar.

At 03.50  alights on the North Sea 30 miles NE of Berwick.

At 07.23 takes flight in an ESE direction and at 0753 changes its flight direction to ENE. 

At 12.05 heads in an easterly direction until 16.34 when it changes again to an ENE direction.

At 17.00 it alights on North Sea until 17.33 when it heads off in an NE direction. 

At 22.52 now heads east and alights on the sea within sight of the Danish coast at 00.52.

At 04.52 flies again after a 4 hour rest. 

At 06.45 flying ENE crosses the Danish coast south west of Thisted.

At 09.52 touches down near Pandrup.

End of migration flight to staging area.

12.52 flies SW back towards Thisted.

Flight details: crossing time 32 hours, resting on sea 8 hours, flying time 24 hours. 

Below is map showing all of this movement given off by its collar tag. 

This early movement was not predicted as last year it was later in January before our birds moved east to Denmark. 

The weather conditions in Denmark have been much colder than in Scotland with much snow on the ground within their staging areas at Thisted and Pandrup.  

We are unsure just how many other birds went with tag5, but out of a winter total of approx 170 birds we appear to still have at least 68 birds still at Slamannan.