Update from Slamannan today

 Hi all

Pleased to say that we have had an influx of beans this past few days. 

This morning in a fresh westerly wind we saw c117 birds near where they had been yesterday. Sadly the farmer who owns the field appeared in a 4x4 and disturbed them. He was probably checking on his cattle and calf's.

They moved west several hundred metres and re-located for a short while before moving again further west.

We followed them and had better counts of c135 birds including some birds with collars. 

See Below for collar 24 and 27. collar 6U was also noted but its mate Tag30 was not seen

Both of the above birds were caught and ringed on 24/10/2019 at Luckenburn Farm courtesy of the farmer Derek Hunter

News update on the bean geese migration..

 On 9th October Tags 39 & 20 flew to Thisted Denmark where they stayed last winter. Looks like they will do the same thing this year. 

As of yesterday we now have at least 48 birds back including one old white collar with a yellow ring on left leg. 

Also a stop press item today shows that Tag27 arrived yesterday meaning that our total of birds may be higher. More news later...

See below of flight of 39 & 20 plus pic below of roost area within a National Park Area 

News today from Slamannan

 News has come through tonight that a small flock of 9 taiga bean geese were seen on the plateau today and posted on twitter.

It would be really useful if the person (jimmyjimm) could contact me by phone 07801 951508 to confirm the location that he saw these birds. and especially the time of day. I have been out looking the past couple of days but have not been able to pick up this small group. We did have a report a couple of days ago of a small group flying over North Queensferry so we knew there was the possibility of a small group in the area. 

Regards

Angus Maciver

Update on September 10

 I am pleased to report that Simon Rix in Norway has been able to pay a visit to the bean goose flock not far from Oslo.

He reported seeing 126 Bean Geese in a flock on the Glomma River.  To see the pictures he took at the time visit (oslobirder.blogspot.com) 

We are again indebted to Simon for his interest and enthusiasm in locating the Slamannan flock birds when they are in his patch. 

Good news too, in from Sweden where 136 bean geese have gathered on their way south on their autumn migration. This flock includes a pair of birds tags 39 & 20. TagV6 has also been seen here. Good news also that 7 juveniles have been identified in this group of birds. Broods of 3,2,1,1.

Updated news on autumn migration 2021

 I am pleased to report that Whit 24 (see below) has now arrived south in the Glomma River area north east of Oslo. 

Simon Rix has not been able to get out into that area (possibly covid reasons) to see our birds and report back on numbers in his area. 

However it is good that the bird is alive and has joined up with the others in our flock. 

No further news on our birds near Saffle in Sweden but tags 39 & 20 still there.

Late August update on migration of the Slamannan Bean Goose flock

Updates from our tracking data shows that one bird (tag24) is still in the breeding area in Dalarna County.

Is it still alive or has it died and its transmitter still working. One to follow up possibly.

Our pair of tag39 & 20 are in Sweden just to the east of Saffle. See map below.

Tags 27 & 18 are in Norway NE of Oslo at a spot on the Glomma river which is a usual stopover in spring and autumn. See map below. 

                                   

                                            All of our birds showing above

     

                  

                                                       Saffle birds in Sweden above

                                                               Norway birds above

News Update from Scandanavia

 I am pleased to say that four of our tagged birds that were caught and ringed
on 24 Oct 2019 have been located slightly south of their breeding area. 

Tag 24, 27 and our pair of tag20 with his mate tag39. 

I attach a screen shot from our tracking website where you can see exactly where they are at present. 

Still no information on breeding success and it is possible we will need to wait until they come further south, especially to an area near Oslo where Simon Rix checks out our birds and passes on information on what he is seeing. 

                                                       Norway                               Sweden