Patch Gold!

 

Missed the Bearded Vulture which Dad managed to see from my patch, Deeping Lakes, last week- he had an Osprey catch a fish on the same visit! Gutted? Of course! But with Radde's Warbler and Bearded Vulture both seen locally that week, I could hardly complain! After two mega rares for an inland area, close to home, this week was always going to be an anticlimax but yesterday's Bush Chat was a great excuse to get out the area. 

On Friday Bob Titman reported a pair of Bean Geese at Deeping Lakes but sent a photograph of Pink-foot and that was that! However, today Mike Weedon warned everyone that one of the Geese at DL had orange feet! Now, there was a orange footed Pink-foot at Ferry Meadows last year, so they do happen but on seeing the photos, I was quickly down the patch just in time to watch an adult Pink-footed Goose and juvenile Tundra Bean Goose fly off over the river!

I relocated them on Newborough Fen and watched them fly back to DL. Whizzed round to DL, where I got the above photos (Bean Goose always on the right) only this time a third Goose flew off with them- a juvenile Pink-foot! The juvenile didn't associate with the adult Pink-foot or juvenile Tundra Bean at all, when I once again relocated them at Newborough Fen and Bob's photo he sent was of the adult Pink-foot so presumably he saw the orange legs of the Tundra Bean and jumped to conclusions. 

Whatever, a long over due patch tick and a first for the reserve!