News Update from Simon in Norway

Simon has been out looking at the bean geese and reports that the flock size has reached 129.

Many of our birds with collars are present and Simon has taken some good shots of them and supplied information on his thoughts of what he is seeing.

Well worth to have a look at his blog (oslobirder.blogspot.co.uk) to look at the birds and pictures of where the birds are at present.

We are indebted to him for his enthusiasm and excellent fieldwork/photography.

News update on Tag30 12 March 2017

Tag30 and possibly others have now arrived in the Glomma River area NE of Oslo.

This is one of their traditional sites that the stop off before moving north to breed in Dalarna County Sweden.

I would expect that Simon Rix the Oslo birder will soon be on the trail of these birds and put some photographs and information up on his website (oslobirder.blogspot.co.uk)

News Update Sunday 5 March 2017

Another twist in the tale of this years spring migration. Tags 27 & 29 have returned to Pandrup Denmark after a jaunt across the sea to Sweden.

The weather conditions on their arrival were probably not to their liking and thought it better to return to pastures greener.

News Update on Spring Migration 2017

Great news today was that Tag10 that has been on Orkney on his own has travelled via south Norway and navigated his way to Pandrup in Denmark to catch up with the rest of the flock. However Tag27 and more than likely Tag29 and possibly more have already moved north into southern Sweden.

Tag30 has also come back online to show that he was with the others who failed the crossing on the 7th and were blown to Orkney but it managed to make landfall in Denmark.

The bean goose website now shows this movement. Have a look at:

scotlandsbeangeese.wikispaces.com

Always something of interest these days into the travels of the Slamannan flock.

News Update on Tag10 in Orkney

Hi all.

Have confirmation that Tag10 has been seen in Orkney all on his own. It will be interesting to see if and when he decides he is in the wrong country and moves to Denmark where the others are.

Thanks to the Observer in Orkney who has confirmed this and supplied a picture of our bird. I don't know his name but I believe he is an RSPB chap. All credit to him.

Latest spring movement news 21 February 2017

I managed to locate Tags 27 & 29 yesterday near Wester Lochgreen Farm around midday.

In total there was a small flock of 12 birds but due to their secretive nature I was unable to read any collars to see if their two young were within the flock.

Imagine my surprise on getting an email from Carl Mitchell am today to say that they left us probably sometime late yesterday as they have now turned up in Denmark (see below)

You will note that our bird Tag10 is showing up as still in Orkney so interesting now to see when he moves to catch up with his friends. 

Update Information on Spring Migration

Information has come in that Tag10 one of last years birds has reached Orkney with the others but did not return south with Tags 27 & 29.

Tags 27 & 29 are still on the plateau today but not seen despite searching the last known locality.

It is thought that most birds have gone to Denmark but no confirmation of that has been received to date.

We are not sure if the two juveniles returned with their parents to Slamannan or perhaps are still in Orkney or lost during the flight over the north sea and Orkney.

Perhaps Simon in Norway may get a sighting and let us know when they reach the Glomma River in late March/early April.