You're right, Michael. I've not checked the records, but all the Devon Beans that I can remember have been Tundras.Michael Frankis said:I'd hazard a guess too that Taiga Bean would be an even bigger rarity in Devon, as they are hardier birds than Tundra Beans and tend to stay further north in winter (as Steve points out, it's all Taiga Beans in Scotland)
Not true, in Northumberland we get far more Taigas than Tundras. It is only southern England (Yare Valley excepted) which gets more Tundras than Taigas.the beans in England away from the two main wintering areas are mostly Tundras
Allied by breeding habitat choice, but not necessarily by genetics - serrirostris is e.g. larger and longer-billed than fabalis, let alone rossicus. It may well end up as a four-way split, once the research is done.there are two extralimital forms too middendorfii and serrirostris - the latter allied with Tundra rossicus, the former with Taiga fabalis.
wary of the dog. I called the couple over and explained the rare geese presence, even showing them the pictures on the camera. Despite seeming amazed by the geese they continued to walk towards them much to my amazement. Needless to say they flew off
The neck also had grooves in the feathers running vertically.
with many of the wing feathers having white edges