Taiga and Tundra Bean Geese with Greylags

Tundra Bean Goose, Anser fabalis &
Greylag Goose, Anser anser at rear

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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

A Bar-headed Goose on the River Arun

Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus

To  view  a  Slideshow,  click  here  then  choose  Fullscreen  (top  right)

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

To  view  a  Slideshow,  click  here  then  choose  Fullscreen  (top  right)

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