Wednesday 27 February 2013

Taiga and Tundra Bean Geese with Greylags

Tundra Bean Goose, Anser fabalis &
Greylag Goose, Anser anser at rear
Yesterday I revisited the river Arun at Warningcamp. The Bar-headed Goose was still with his four Canadian pals. Further round the river bend I found 34 Greylags. I managed to spot the two Bean Geese among them. The beak patterns indicate that they may belong to the two subspecies Taiga and Tundra. Some people believe they are both Tundra. The names refer to the habitat of each subspecies. 
Taiga is boreal forest,  characterized by coniferous forests. It is found between the tundra, and the temperate forest, generally 50°N to 70°N. 
Tundra is north of the Taiga where tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons and vegetation is composed of dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, mosses, and lichens.

Afterwards I called into the Arundel WWT.
Taiga Bean Goose on left with Tundra Bean Goose
with Greylag Goose resting
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis &
Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus
Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus
Bar-head with his Canadian pals
Cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo
Greylag Geese, Anser anser
My parents had 3 flying ducks on the wall in the 50s
Greylag Geese, Anser anser
Greylag Goose, Anser anser
Black Swedish Mallard at Arundel WWT

Monday 25 February 2013

A Bar-headed Goose on the River Arun

Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus
This afternoon I walked along the bank of the River Arun at Warningcamp. Another wildlife enthusiast told me about a white goose that was with four Canada Geese. I found them grazing in a field. One appeared to be a sentry as it didn’t graze but kept its head extended upwards the whole time. They then flew to the river. Afterwards I stopped at Mill Road and found the juvenile Water Vole in his usual place.
Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus and
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Bar-headed Goose and Canada Geese
Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus
Bar-headed Goose and Canada Geese
Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus
Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus
Bar-headed Goose and Canada Geese
Lapwings (Peewits), Vanellus vanellus
Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
juvenile Water Vole, Arvicola amphibius

Brent Geese rule and Curlews flock

Curlew, Numenius arquata
Yesterday I visited Pagham Harbour and walked from Church Lane along the North Wall where I saw Teal, Brent Geese, a Redshank, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a Curlew plus large numbers of Wigeon. I carried on to Halsey’s Farm where I saw thousands of Brent Geese grazing in a field, a flock of 8 Curlews and a female Reed Bunting. Ivy Lake gave me a Great Crested Grebe, a Gadwall and Coots. I ended up at Arundel WWT where I heard a Great Tit tapping away at a branch, removing the lichen covering, presumably looking for insects. Initially I thought it was the Great Spotted Woodpecker!
Brent Geese, Branta bernicla
Brent Geese, Branta bernicla
Curlew, Numenius arquata
Curlew, Numenius arquata
Curlew, Numenius arquata
Eurasian Widgeon, Anas penelope
female Eurasian Widgeon, Anas penelope
Eurasian Widgeon, Anas penelope
male Eurasian Widgeon, Anas penelope
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Teal, Anas crecca
Little egret, Egretta garzetta

Redshank, Tringa totanus
id needed please!
Brent Geese, Branta bernicla
Brent Geese, Branta bernicla
Brent Geese, Branta bernicla 
Curlews, Numenius arquata
female Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
Eurasian Widgeon, Anas penelope
Ivy Lake area:
Coots, Fulica atra
Gadwall, Anas strepera
Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Arundel WWT:
Canada Geese, Branta canadensis
Cape Shelduck, Tadorna cana
Common Pochard, Aythya Ferina
female Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
Long-tailed Tits, Great Tit and Blue Tit
Mallards, Anas platyrhynchos
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Red-crested Pochards, Netta rufina