Bean Geese
Taiga Bean Goose at Gibraltar Point March 2004 © Wayne Gillatt 2004
Taiga Bean Goose at Gibraltar Point March 2004 © Wayne Gillatt 2004
Tundra Been Geese, Nocton Fen Dec 7th 2003 © Stephen Botham 2003
Tundra Bean Geese, Wroot Lincs 9th March 2003 - Averages slightly larger than Pink foot, with a dumpy structure, rounded head and a short deep based bill, which shows a rather swollen lower mandible and an orange subterminal band on a black bill. Bean geese are dark grey with contrasting pale breast's and pale-edged dark tertials and the orange legs really stand out. © Stephen Botham 2003
Tundra Bean Goose with Pinks Wolds December 2002 © Graham Catley
Tundra Bean Goose with Pinks Wolds December 2002 © Graham Catley
Tundra Bean Goose with Pinks Wolds December 2002 © Graham Catley
Bean Geese - January 27th 2002
On January 27th 2002, Nigel Lound discovered three geese in brassica fields with the swan herd at Huttoft. He was able to identify them as Bean Geese, but because of the atrocious weather conditions and distance from the birds, he was unable to take the identification process any further.
I made an attempt to see the birds the following day, and although the rain had abated and the sun was out, gale force winds made viewing and particularly digiscoping extremely difficult. However, I did get some record shots from about 700 metres away.
The browner upperparts, orangey-coloured legs when finally seen, the longer necks and some orange on the bill confirmed that they were Bean Geese. Sub-specifically identifying them was going to be more problematic as there were no other geese present. Size and structure are important diagnostic features, but where is that Greylag for comparison when you need it!
Because the bill colour of Bean Goose is so variable with the Taiga and Tundra forms, it cannot be relied upon for correct separation of the two. If seen reasonably well, the structure of the bill is a useful pointer. In Tundra, the bill is deeper-based and shorter in overall length than in Taiga, thus closer in its proportions to the bill of Pink-footed Goose.
These Huttoft Beans had longer bills than those of Pink-feet, but not so strikingly long to give the impression of being Taiga Bean Geese.
With no other geese present, it was difficult to assess the size of these geese, but when confronted with a Taiga Bean Goose, because of its large size and proportions, it is usually fairly obvious that you are watching that particular subspecies. There is a maxim, going the rounds, that if you are dithering between Taiga and Tundra, it will be a Tundra Bean Goose that you are watching.
These Huttoft geese also varied individually in size, and taking into account that males, females and juveniles vary in size, it is my view that this was a family party. There is a potential trap here for the unwary that the different sizes within the group might suggest two different races of Bean Goose present. I was left in no doubt that they were Tundra Bean Geese.
Bean Geese are scarce/rare visitors to the county and rarely give much opportunity to study them here. My three hours at Huttoft that morning was time well spent.
Bean Geese at Huttoft, January 27th 2002 © Mike Tarrant
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