1st February 2015:
Pictures of a 'flock of Greylag Geese' are posted on a birding website by a photographer. A sharp-eyed birder notices that one of the geese could be a 'Bean Goose'. This is subsequently confirmed by various experts on the website.
11th February 2015:
The original photographer returns to the lake in Sariska National Park and is able to take several photos of the Bean Goose. As soon as these pictures are posted on websites and discussion groups, they go viral on social media. Well, not quite viral like a celebrity scandal, but still popular enough with birders and wildlifers.
So what is a Bean Goose and why is this sighting such a big deal?
The Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) is a rare vagrant to India - there have been only three confirmed records of it in the recent past: from Harike(Punjab) in 2003, from Assam in 2007 and from Corbett in 2013.
Hmm, why don't we give it a go then. Sariska is only a short drive away from Jaipur.
15th February 2015:
Sunday morning finds us driving towards 'Mansarovar lake' adjacent to Sariska in Rajasthan. We know there are several lakes in the vicinity and I am aware that 'listers' from across India have already visited here the past three days to try and add this rarity to their individual bird lists - we don't know with what success.
Our trip is more leisurely, the idea really is to have a sunday outing in convivial company. We have two vehicles: Khem's SUV and a Jeep driven by Somi. Secretly, of course, I'm quite determined to have a serious crack at this solitary goose if we can find the flocks.
A two-hour drive from Jaipur brings us to Mansarovar lake. More correctly this is Mangalsar Dam. A temple overlooks the lake, with the abandoned Tehla Fort in the background.
The lake itself is quite scenic with the dry forests and hills of Sariska ringing it to the west and the north. The water appears to be monsoon run-off from the forested hills and it is unpolluted.
And there are lots of birds. Flocks of geese, ducks, waders, storks and pelicans - I'm not going to list them here.
Immediately it is clear that we have a task on our hands to find the Bean. The Goose species, both Bar-heads and Greylags are scattered all over the lake and the surrounding grassy banks. Somewhere among the hundreds of these familiar species is the lone Bean. Nothing for it then, we just have to do it the hard way. Try and get as close as we can without disturbing the birds and scan each and every goose with the binoculars and spotting-scope.
Obviously the Bar-heads can be easily discounted (even from a distance) because they are quite distinctive, but the Bean is confusingly similar to the Greylags. One difference being that while the Greylag has a pink bill, the Bean's is dark with a yellow band. This should be sufficient for an experienced birder, but at this time of day many of the Greylags are resting with their bills tucked under the wing! So you then next need to try and determine the colour of the legs (pink in Greylags, and yellowish-orange in the Bean). Again, stymied at times if the goose is resting with the legs hidden under the body! Another difference is that the Bean is smaller in size than the Greylag - trust me, this is not always apparent.
So we plug along scanning all the Greylags. I know that if we don't do this systematically and thoroughly we will not find the Bean unless we get lucky. Of course, the geese are not all static like proverbial sitting ducks. Many are constantly in motion: waddling across mudflats to shallow water, and occasionally taking flight.
Anyhow, whether by pure luck or from dogged persistence, we do find the Bean Goose. We put the scope on it and everyone gets a good look. I try and take photos with my little point-and-shoot camera.
Just as I am winding up the photography (a little distance away from my companions at this time) there is a sudden commotion over the lake. Almost every bird has taken wing. The ducks are quickly flighting very high in tight flocks; skeins of geese honk in alarm; waders flash past in jinking flight; even the storks and pelicans are aloft. I know this could be reaction to a raptor. What could it be? I scan the sky and can see no bird of prey. This is puzzling. Then I look around me and I see it. A falcon with a duck on the ground. It has just begun de-feathering its prey no more than 50 yards away from me.
And its another lifer - a Barbary Falcon.
I am allowed to approach very close- perhaps to within 20 yards. It is obviously very hungry and proceeds to devour the Common Teal (ID of the prey from the speculum) in a matter of minutes. Glaring at me from time to time as I may be inside its 'personal space', it tolerates my presence as I am careful not to make any sudden movements or to look directly at it.
There is enough time to make a video and take several photos.
Only later, replaying the sequence of events leading up to the sighting - the calls and flights of alarm of the birds - it may well be that the falcon killed the teal virtually overhead from me. This would usually have been a stoop, striking the duck in mid-air with its fierce talons. And I never heard or sensed a thing!
In an earlier post there is an extract from one of my favourite books - Baker's 'The Peregrine'. If you haven't read this classic, do click the link below to read a description of a falcon's stoop at prey -
A Peregrine's stoop
If you want to know any of the gory details of the Barbary's feeding habits or the Bean Goose's behaviour do email me at sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in and I will be happy to share more information if I can.
Cheers,
Sahdev Singh
Pictures of a 'flock of Greylag Geese' are posted on a birding website by a photographer. A sharp-eyed birder notices that one of the geese could be a 'Bean Goose'. This is subsequently confirmed by various experts on the website.
11th February 2015:
The original photographer returns to the lake in Sariska National Park and is able to take several photos of the Bean Goose. As soon as these pictures are posted on websites and discussion groups, they go viral on social media. Well, not quite viral like a celebrity scandal, but still popular enough with birders and wildlifers.
So what is a Bean Goose and why is this sighting such a big deal?
The Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) is a rare vagrant to India - there have been only three confirmed records of it in the recent past: from Harike(Punjab) in 2003, from Assam in 2007 and from Corbett in 2013.
Hmm, why don't we give it a go then. Sariska is only a short drive away from Jaipur.
15th February 2015:
Sunday morning finds us driving towards 'Mansarovar lake' adjacent to Sariska in Rajasthan. We know there are several lakes in the vicinity and I am aware that 'listers' from across India have already visited here the past three days to try and add this rarity to their individual bird lists - we don't know with what success.
Our trip is more leisurely, the idea really is to have a sunday outing in convivial company. We have two vehicles: Khem's SUV and a Jeep driven by Somi. Secretly, of course, I'm quite determined to have a serious crack at this solitary goose if we can find the flocks.
A two-hour drive from Jaipur brings us to Mansarovar lake. More correctly this is Mangalsar Dam. A temple overlooks the lake, with the abandoned Tehla Fort in the background.
The lake itself is quite scenic with the dry forests and hills of Sariska ringing it to the west and the north. The water appears to be monsoon run-off from the forested hills and it is unpolluted.
And there are lots of birds. Flocks of geese, ducks, waders, storks and pelicans - I'm not going to list them here.
Immediately it is clear that we have a task on our hands to find the Bean. The Goose species, both Bar-heads and Greylags are scattered all over the lake and the surrounding grassy banks. Somewhere among the hundreds of these familiar species is the lone Bean. Nothing for it then, we just have to do it the hard way. Try and get as close as we can without disturbing the birds and scan each and every goose with the binoculars and spotting-scope.
Obviously the Bar-heads can be easily discounted (even from a distance) because they are quite distinctive, but the Bean is confusingly similar to the Greylags. One difference being that while the Greylag has a pink bill, the Bean's is dark with a yellow band. This should be sufficient for an experienced birder, but at this time of day many of the Greylags are resting with their bills tucked under the wing! So you then next need to try and determine the colour of the legs (pink in Greylags, and yellowish-orange in the Bean). Again, stymied at times if the goose is resting with the legs hidden under the body! Another difference is that the Bean is smaller in size than the Greylag - trust me, this is not always apparent.
So we plug along scanning all the Greylags. I know that if we don't do this systematically and thoroughly we will not find the Bean unless we get lucky. Of course, the geese are not all static like proverbial sitting ducks. Many are constantly in motion: waddling across mudflats to shallow water, and occasionally taking flight.
Anyhow, whether by pure luck or from dogged persistence, we do find the Bean Goose. We put the scope on it and everyone gets a good look. I try and take photos with my little point-and-shoot camera.
Bean Goose in the middle, Greylags either side
Bean Goose (2nd from left) with its sub-group of 3 Greylags
Interestingly, for the 3 hours that we observe the Bean, it is inseparable from the 3 Greylags pictured above. Whether feeding on the weeds and grass, or in flight, the 4 geese remain together. They are happy enough to mingle with other Greylags and Bar-heads, but always maintain a distinct sub-group. In flight, the Greylags are quite vocal but the Bean appears not to open its bill. Unlike some other vagrants I have seen (albeit ducks, not geese) the Bean is not pecked-at or shooed-off by the other birds.
And its another lifer - a Barbary Falcon.
Barbary Falcon with prey
I am allowed to approach very close- perhaps to within 20 yards. It is obviously very hungry and proceeds to devour the Common Teal (ID of the prey from the speculum) in a matter of minutes. Glaring at me from time to time as I may be inside its 'personal space', it tolerates my presence as I am careful not to make any sudden movements or to look directly at it.
There is enough time to make a video and take several photos.
Only later, replaying the sequence of events leading up to the sighting - the calls and flights of alarm of the birds - it may well be that the falcon killed the teal virtually overhead from me. This would usually have been a stoop, striking the duck in mid-air with its fierce talons. And I never heard or sensed a thing!
In an earlier post there is an extract from one of my favourite books - Baker's 'The Peregrine'. If you haven't read this classic, do click the link below to read a description of a falcon's stoop at prey -
A Peregrine's stoop
If you want to know any of the gory details of the Barbary's feeding habits or the Bean Goose's behaviour do email me at sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in and I will be happy to share more information if I can.
Cheers,
Sahdev Singh
Wonderful narration & pictures.
ReplyDeleteSuperb narration and a thrilling encounter with the Barbary....nature always surprises!
ReplyDeleteFantastic sighting and description.
ReplyDelete