Steve Sanford
Well-known member
All~
The last several days hereabout have been dominated by a visitor from Europe - a lone Taiga Bean Goose. I finally got to see it this morning.
I have known about the Bean Goose for most of my adult life. Although we do not have any of the "Greylag complex" of geese - members of the genus Anser including White-fronts here in North America and Greylag, pink-footed and Bean in the Old World. (When I was young, the Snows and Blues and Emperors were in the genus Chen - but are now in Anser. The "lumpers" have won!)
I'm not sure when - but the Bean was split into Taiga and Tundra - at the full species level. Bill markings and head shape distinguish the two.
Here is my best photo - with a 65X digital zoom.
Fortunately, some generous birders allowed me to watch it standing, flapping, striding et cetera - with Swarovski acuity. Here is the setting. Rather than mixing with the Canadas at my feet, it selected the bar mid-Hudson.
I missed the "target" on my first pass through - but was rewarded with Mister Black Duck.
Here is my friend's smartphone photo from Wednesday - on the Batten Kill.
My Long Island friend who first told me about the Bean Goose was too ill to travel. But he did take my call from Jones Inlet - where he was watching Harlequins (and I imagine Surf Scoters, maybe Eiders, Purple Sandpipers, Great Cormorants, Bonaparte's Gulls and the like). His wife drove him north today - and he did see the Bean.
BTW: This Canon can take nice photos. I wanted the Taiga Bean Goose to commingle with these onshore loafers - an easy gunshot away.
Yesterday I could not catch up with the Bean - so visited another patch of open Hudson about 10 miles South.
I got to hear that wonderful sound of about 70 Whistlers "whistling" when they took wing. When on the water, they were feeding continually.
When your painting or carving Goldeneyes, make sure the Hen's eyes are paler than her mates!
Lots of courtship display amongst the Drakes.
A few other loners spiced up the morning.
This Hen Ringbill surprised me.....
The King - Mister Goosander hisself!
It'll be interesting to see if the many Canadas stick around after the 3 days of near-zero that are coming our way.
All the best!
SJS
The last several days hereabout have been dominated by a visitor from Europe - a lone Taiga Bean Goose. I finally got to see it this morning.
I have known about the Bean Goose for most of my adult life. Although we do not have any of the "Greylag complex" of geese - members of the genus Anser including White-fronts here in North America and Greylag, pink-footed and Bean in the Old World. (When I was young, the Snows and Blues and Emperors were in the genus Chen - but are now in Anser. The "lumpers" have won!)
I'm not sure when - but the Bean was split into Taiga and Tundra - at the full species level. Bill markings and head shape distinguish the two.
Here is my best photo - with a 65X digital zoom.
Fortunately, some generous birders allowed me to watch it standing, flapping, striding et cetera - with Swarovski acuity. Here is the setting. Rather than mixing with the Canadas at my feet, it selected the bar mid-Hudson.
I missed the "target" on my first pass through - but was rewarded with Mister Black Duck.
Here is my friend's smartphone photo from Wednesday - on the Batten Kill.
My Long Island friend who first told me about the Bean Goose was too ill to travel. But he did take my call from Jones Inlet - where he was watching Harlequins (and I imagine Surf Scoters, maybe Eiders, Purple Sandpipers, Great Cormorants, Bonaparte's Gulls and the like). His wife drove him north today - and he did see the Bean.
BTW: This Canon can take nice photos. I wanted the Taiga Bean Goose to commingle with these onshore loafers - an easy gunshot away.
Yesterday I could not catch up with the Bean - so visited another patch of open Hudson about 10 miles South.
I got to hear that wonderful sound of about 70 Whistlers "whistling" when they took wing. When on the water, they were feeding continually.
When your painting or carving Goldeneyes, make sure the Hen's eyes are paler than her mates!
Lots of courtship display amongst the Drakes.
A few other loners spiced up the morning.
This Hen Ringbill surprised me.....
The King - Mister Goosander hisself!
It'll be interesting to see if the many Canadas stick around after the 3 days of near-zero that are coming our way.
All the best!
SJS
