Bean Geese at Raffin
Four bean geese were recently spotted in a boggy area at Raffin near Stoerhead Lighthouse. They were first seen on 14 November 2011.
This is the first record of this grey-goose species for Assynt, and we are more accustomed to seeing Greylag and Pink-footed geese. Although they move away from the Raffin area to feed they seem to return before dark.
As this is a relatively uncommon species in Highland a full report has been sent to the Highland Records Committee (this record was subsequently been accepted by the HRC).
This photograph was taken by David Haines who first spotted them. We think they are the sub species Anser fabalis rossicus.
Bean Goose is a rare bird on the West coast, and they have been seen only once in recent times at Balnakeil near Durness. There were only five records in Sutherland from 1973-97, and all were on the east coast.
The UK has two wintering populations with one being in Scotland on the Slamannan plateau in West Lothian. That population is the sub-species Anser fabalis fabalis.