Seeing the Slamannan Plateau Taiga Bean Geese
The taiga bean geese typically utilise the Slamananan Plateau between late-September and early February each winter; nowadays somewhat fewer than 200 birds are involved.
However, they are notoriously difficult to locate and, as such, it is invariably very hard to achieve good views.
During the day, the birds tend to be in various flocks hidden within the Slamannan Plateau landscape to minimise disturbance whilst they are feeding or resting. Remember, pink-footed geese also use the Plateau and both species can sometimes be found in same fields, though the taiga bean geese do tend to keep themselves apart from other geese. Seeing orange legs and orange on the bill is essential !
As there are few roads through the area involved, and as the geese are not necessarily well-liked by the local farmers, birdwatchers will both struggle to find safe places from which to view and potentially not be made to feel very welcome.
As such, do not:
Disturb the birds as they are extremely wary and will fly off; or,
Under any circumstances, leave the minor roads / enter fields.
Given the above, three locations are recommended for viewing:
1. NS 80236 73786. The lay-by on Fannyside Road can be the safest and easiest place to see the taiga bean geese, as they fly to or from the roost site at the Fannyside Lochs and the adjacent Fannyside Muir at dusk / dawn. Look and listen for birds arriving / leaving (often in dark); knowing the calls of geese species is essential.
2. NS 85134 72933. Park off the road in the small car-parking area adjacent to the sport pitches in Slamannan. Scanning north and north-east from here can, with persistence and care, provide very distant views of taiga bean geese.
3. The very minor no-through road running roughly east to west along the valley of the Avon on the northern side of the valley. This road is accessed off the Slamannan–Falkirk road, a few metres north of the minor road to Shieldhill on the opposite side of the road. Drive slowly along the road and find suitable places to park safely and sensibly (there are very few !) and then carefully scan fields to the north with a telescope. Remember: keep out of the way of other road users and farmers using this road and also remember it is not a through road.
Wheelchair accessibility note: at the sports pitches car-park in Slamannan and the Fannyside Road lay-by parking is accessible for wheelchair users, but other locations are more difficult due to parking limitations.
The following blog site may provide some contemporary information about where the geese can be seen http://beangoose.blogspot.com/.
Other species joining the taiga bean geese flocks can include barnacle, Canada and Greenland white-fronted geese, and as detailed, pink-footed geese also occur in the area. Species like golden plover, fieldfare and raptors can also be seen.
If flocks of taiga bean geese are successfully located on the plateau, those monitoring the geese would welcome the details including date, time, number of birds and field location involved (ideally using ‘pin’ dropped into a Google or Bing Maps aerial view screengrab), any accompanying other geese species, any details of marked (neck-collared or colour-ringed birds), etc.. Please send details of any confirmed sightings to Billy Thomson (watme1"@"icloud - remove the quotation marks before emailing).
Finally, should further help regarding locating the birds be required it is suggested that you contact Brian Minshull (BCMinshull"@"hotmail.co.uk - remove the quotation marks before emailing) who may be able to provide advice and guidance.
Page updated 03/04/2026