Observations in 2005
Note that observation data can also be found at the News» page.
23 December, Kiskunság NP, Hungary 2 adults and one juvenile (the juv. being alone) LWfG were seen near Szabadszállás (Source: Csaba Pigniczki).
23 December, Kisköre, Heves, Hungary One adult seen in the Tisza-rét-dűlő area (source: www.birding.hu).
19 December, Evros Delta, Greece 38 LWfG were observed, of which five birds had colour rings (Source: Yannis Tsougrakis/ LWfG Life project).
19 December, Pusztaszer, Csongrád, Hungary 2 LWfG were observed in the Büdös-széki puszta area (source: www.birding.hu).
17 December, Evros Delta, Greece 38 LWfG were observed (Source: Yannis Tsougrakis/ LWfG Life project).
10 December, Pusztaszer, Csongrád, Hungary 9 LWfG were observed in the Büdös-széki puszta area (source: www.birding.hu).
9 December, Geszt, Békés, Hungary One ad. observed in the Begécsi tavak area (source: www.birding.hu).
7-9 December, Pusztaszer, Csongrád, Hungary Seven LWfG were observed in the Büdös-széki puszta area (source: www.birding.hu).
6 December, Lake Kerkini, Greece 30 LWfG were observed of which 25 adults and one juvenile. Four birds were not aged (It is likely that they also were juveniles but it couldn't be confirmed). Observation conditions were not good enough for reading colour rings (Source: Thodoros Naziridis, conveyed by Yannis Tsougrakis/ LWfG Life project).
30 November, Japan There have been more than usual Lesser White-fronted Geese in Japan this winter with a flock of 44-45 at one locality in the north and several other smaller groups and records as far south as the southern islands (Source: Mark Brazil by way of orientalbirding@yahoogroups.com).
29 November, Lake Kerkini, Greece The flock of 30 LWfG is still in Lake Kerkini (Source: Thodoros Naziridis, conveyed by Yannis Tsougrakis/ LWfG Life project).
28 November 2005, Kiskunság NP, Hungary Today 6 LWfG (1 ad. male, 2 ad. female and 3 juvenile) were seen near Szabadszállás (Source: Csaba Pigniczki).
25 November, Solt, Bács-Kiskun, Hungary One adult observed (source: www.birding.hu).
13 November, Evros Delta, Greece 9 LWfG were observed, of which one ringed individual had its steel ring read by telescope by Petros Platis (wildlife ecologist of Hunting Federation of Macedonia & Thrace) (Source: Christos Sokos).
6 November, Evros Delta, Greece 9 LWfG were observed (Source: Christos Sokos).
4 November, Lake Kerkini, Greece 30 LWfG were observed (Source: Thodoros Naziridis, conveyed by Yannis Tsougrakis/ LWfG Life project).
1 November, Lake Kerkini, Greece 30 LWfG were observed together with 10 WfG (Source: Thodoros Naziridis, conveyed by Yannis Tsougrakis/ LWfG Life project).
October-November, Hungary – from the web site www.birding.hu and by individual observers, a lot of observations have been done recently. Compressed below you’ll find a list from 23 October to 23 November for Hungary: 23 November 2005, 1ind., Abádszalók, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok (source: Borbáth Péter). 17 November 2005, Fertőújlak, Győr-Moson-Sopron, 2ind.,(source: Pellinger Attila). 16 November 2005, Pusztaszer, Csongrád, 1ind.,(source: Nagy Tamás). 14 November 2005, Pusztaszer, Csongrád, 1 ind., (source: Nagy Tamás). 14 November 2005, Dunatetétlen, Bács-Kiskun, 1 ind., (source: Kókay Szabolcs, Zsoldos Márton). 13 November 2005, Fertőújlak, Győr-Moson-Sopron, 2 ind., (source: Steiner Attila, Hegedűs Dani, Lendvai...). 12 November 2005, Fertőújlak, Győr-Moson-Sopron, 1 ind., (source: Daniel Bastaja és osztrák madarászok). 11 November 2005, Fertőújlak, Győr-Moson-Sopron, 3 ind., (source: Pellinger Attila, Mogyorósi Sándor,...). 10 November, 2005, near Szabadszállás 2 ad. (Source: Csaba Pigniczki & László Szél). 9 November, 2005, near Szabadszállás 1+1 adult individuals in different areas (Source: Csaba Pigniczki). 8 November, 2005, near Szabadszállás 3 ad + 1 juvenile. The juv. was associated with 1 adult bird, while the 2 other adults stayed for together. (Source: Bence Kókay & Csaba Pigniczki). 8 November 2005, Fertőújlak, Győr-Moson-Sopron, 1ind. (source: Pellinger Attila). 7 November 2005, Zalavár, Zala, 3 ind., (source: Cser Sz., Gál Sz., Faragó Á.). 5 November 2005, Pusztaszer, Csongrád, 2 ind., (source: AmpovicsZs.,GálSz.,LisztesA.,NémethT.,Do...). 3 November 2005, Pusztaszer, Csongrád, 2 ind., (source: Bérdi Gergely). 2 November 2005, Szeged, Csongrád, 2 ind., (source: Mészáros Csaba). 2 November 2005, Pusztaszer, Csongrád, 3 ind., (source: Nagy Tamás). 1 November 2005, Zalavár, Zala, 3 ind. (source: Dr. Hadarics Tibor). 23 October 2005, Hortobágy, Hajdú-Bihar, 1 ind. (source: Kovács Gábor, Fodor András, Szűcs...).
01-02 November 2005, Hortobágy, Hungary One juvenile observed in the fields not so far from Viragoskut (1/11), and one pair in Bivahyhalom Halasto 1&2/11) (Source: Tomas Aarvak, Ingar J. Øien, János Tar, Petteri Tolvanen/ LWfG Life project).
05 October 2005, Haeska, Ridala, Estonia Today 2 adult Lesser White-fronted Geese were seen at Haeska in a mixed flock of other geese (Bean Goose 600, White-fronted Goose 40, Barnacle Goose 450). The birds were at the coastal meadows east of the observation tower. The birds were together and obviously a pair (without young). Because of the high vegetation it was not possible to identify if the birds were ringed or not. The birds were amongst the Anser geese and were not associated with the barnacle geese, so probably the two birds belong to the original population and are not from the swedish introduction project. (Source: Trinus Haitjema and Miranda Klaij).
03 October 2005, Hortobágy, Hungary The flock of 20 birds was also seen today in the Hortobágy Halasto fish ponds. (Source: János Tar, conveyed by Jarmo Pääläinen / WWF Finland LWfG project).
25 September 2005, Haeska, Ridala, Estonia One lesser was observed in Haeska near the tower. It was swimming together with greylag geese. (Source: Margit Nöhrer and Helga Loschy from Austria, conveyed by Maire Toming/ LWfG Life project).
22 September 2005, Hortobágy, Hungary LWfG 11 adults + 9 juveniles were observed at Hortobágy today. Two with colour leg rings: one in left leg, up red, under white, another in right leg, up yellow, under red. (Source: János Tar, conveyed by Jarmo Pääläinen / WWF Finland LWfG project).
6 September 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway SUMMARY Last day of monitoring this autumn at the Valdak Marshes. Altogether 32 LWfG has been staging in the area, of which 16 juveniles. This confirmes that the breeding success in 2005 has been relatively bad. (Source: NOF LWfG project).
3 September 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway The last few days the lessers have arrived during night time at the marshes and early today (06:00) we could again make good video shots and collect data on pair identity and brood sizes. It turned out that two goslings have dissapeared in the last few days. Two alternative explanations are predation (by Gyr Falcon or Golden Eagle) or illegal hunting by humans. The flock has been joined by seven new adults without goslings. (Source: NOF LWfG project).
28 August 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Today we searched all the islands in the inner part of the Porsangen fjord together with Torkjell Morset from the mountain service. The flock of 25 lessers were found staging on one of them! Hopefully they will again return to the Valdak Marshes before they continue the autumn migration. (Source: NOF LWfG project).
27 August 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway No Lesser white-fronted geese have been seen since the evening on 21 August. The reason can partly be attributed to a poacher that was hunting harbour seals illegally within the nature reserve. The poacher was arrested when he arrived at the port close to Lakselv City. (Source: NOF LWfG project).
21 August 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway The autumn staging period has started. 25 (9 ad. + 16 juveniles) LWfG has so far been seen at the marshes. (Source: NOF LWfG project).
3 June 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway The staging period seems to be over this spring. Today we had only one LWfG at the marshes. (Source: NOF LWfG project).
31 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Totally 11 Lessers a t the Marshes today. The number of staging birds are decreasing. (Source: NOF LWfG project).
29 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Totally 11 Lessers at the Marshes today. The number of staging birds are decreasing. We still believe that more pairs will arrive. (Source: NOF LWfG project).
25 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Totally 29 LWfG seen today. Five birds with colour rings. Only three second calendar year birds seen so far (Source: NOF LWfG project).
21 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Totally 22 LWfG seen today. Four birds with colour rings (Source: NOF LWfG project).
20 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Totally 21 LWfG seen today. Four birds with colour rings (Source: NOF LWfG project).
19 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Totally 19 LWfG seen today. Four birds with colour rings (Source: NOF LWfG project).
17 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Totally 15 LWfG seen today (Source: NOF LWfG project).
16 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Two new LWfG pairs arrived today. One bird in each pair wore colour rings. One of them being White-Green (read from above on left leg) which has also been seen in Finland, Estonia and Greece (see below on 13 May) (Source: NOF LWfG project).
14 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway Three new LWfG arrived in the morning. Two of them had colour rings (Orange-Yellow right leg and Black-Red left leg). The pair that arrived yesterday turned out to be (based on drawings and video tape) the same pair that was the first to arrive both in 2004 and 2003! Other information and pictures you can view at the pages detailing the field work in 2005 at the Valdak Marshes» (Source: NOF LWfG project).
13 May 2005, Valdak Marshes, Porsanger, Norway The first LWfG pair arrived in the morning at the Valdak Marshes. Also present were 134 bean geese (rossicus). (Source: NOF LWfG project).
13 May 2005, Säärenperä, Finland The 7 LWfG is still present in Siikajoki. One of them have colour rings (White-green [read from above) on left leg). The same individual was also seen in Estonia 26.4.-6.5. (Jyrki Pynnönen & Minna Ertimo pers. medd.). The bird was also seen this winter (from 31.12.2004 to 24.02.2005) in Dimitriades in the Evros Delta, Greece (Source: Didier Vangeluwe). The bird was ringed at the Valdak Marshes, May 2002.
There has also been seen (in addition to this flock) one LWfG of unknown age in Liminganlahti area, in a flock of Pink-feets, and it is possibly a new individual (the 8th one for Oulu region this spring). (Source: Petteri Tolvanen / WWF Finland LWfG project).
11 May 2005, Säärenperä, Finland 7 LWfG (3 ad pairs + 1 2cy) were observed at Siikajoki, Säärenperä today. The birds arrived there probably on Sun 8/5 in the evening or on Mon 9/5 in the morning (Source: Aappo Luukkonen / Metsähallitus & WWF Finland LWfG project).
10 May, Estonia A preliminary estimate of the number of staging LWfG in Estonia this spring was: minimum 24 - maximum 29 individuals in the period 19 April - 6 May; of these only one 2cy. The Haeska flock (14 ind.) left in the evening (21:30) on 6 May (and was present until that), so the observations (3 May, 5-6 May) were different individuals (Source: WWF Finland LWfG project).
05-06 May, Tahu, Noarootsi, Estonia 4 ad were seen at Noarootsi (Source: M. Bruun / WWF Finland LWfG project).
03 May 2005, Liivakula, Ridala, Estonia 2 ad were seen at Liivakula (Source: M. Bruun & J. Hauru / WWF Finland LWfG project).
02 May 2005, Haeska, Ridala, Estonia The 11adults + 3 new ones (=14 ind.) were observed (Source: G.Nordenswan et al. / WWF Fin LWfG project).
30 April 2005, Keemu, Lihula, Estonia Two LWfG were observed in Keemu (S shore of the Matsalu Bay) (Source: Mika Bruun / WWF Fin LWfG project).
28 April 2005, Haeska, Ridala, Estonia The 11 ad. are still present at the site (Source: Riikka Kaartinen & al./ WWF Finland LWfG project).
26 April 2005, Tartu, Lepiku and Aarda, Estonia 4 ad - They are not the same individuals as in other places (Tartu is in SE Estonia) (Source: Pekka Komi, Markku O. Saarinen; Mika Bruun).
26 April 2005, Haeska, Ridala, Estonia 11 ad.; the same 3ad as on 24.4. + 8 new ind. in another flock (Source: Riikka Kaartinen & al./ WWF Finland LWfG project).
24 April 2005, Haeska, Ridala, Estonia 3 ad. - probably not the same individuals as on 19.4. at Taebla, Kirimäe(of which at least one was 2 cy) (Source: Riikka Kaartinen & al./ WWF Finland LWfG project).
19 April 2005, Taebla, Kirimäe, Estonia 2-3 ind. (Source: Riikka Kaartinen, Heikki Holmström, Risto Karvonen / WWF Finland LWfG project).
17 April 2005, Hortobágy, Hungary One LWfG was observed in Hortobágy-Halastó, Hajdú-Bihar by Berényi Zsombor, Bécsy László, Horváth...(source: www.birding.hu).
14 April 2005, Hortobágy, Hungary 35 LWfG was observed in Hortobágy-Halastó, Hajdú-Bihar by Ifj. Oláh János, Ecsedi Z., Szűcs Lóri (source: www.birding.hu).
4-5 April 2005, Finland The first adult lesser white-fronted goose was observed 4/4 in Eurajoki, Auvi, on the fields (obs. T.Santamaa & E.Roström / Lintutiedotus). On 5/4 the same individual (still at Eurajoki, Auvi) left for migration at 07:05 with 6-7 Bean Geese (U. Stradberg & M.Päiviö/Lintutiedotus). At 14:16 the same individual was observed in Pori Pinomäki, on a field with Bean Geese and White-fronted Geese (obs. Sami Luoma / Lintutiedotus). It is unringed (Petteri Mäkelä, pers comm to Petteri Tolvanen).
Note: This long-staying individual was present in Pori, SW Finland until 19.4., no records after that (Source: Lintutiedotus).
29 March 2005, Poland 9 Lesser White-fronted Geese observed near Wizna (Source: Tomasz Kulakowski, Eurobirdnet; www.avestom.republika.pl).
28 March 2005, Estonia 1 ad LWfG migrating in a flock of Greylag Geese (indicates most likely Swedish reintroduction origin) seen at Saaremaa, Sõrve Bird Observatory (Obs. T. Nuoranen, source: www.vironlintuseura.fi).
17 March 2005, Hortobágy, Hungary The spring has come after a cold period, today with 17 degrees plus. Many white-fronts have just arrived and among them on Sunday 13/3 one Lesser Whiter-fronted Goose. On Monday 14/3 five lesser white-fronted geese. On Tuesday 15/3 one Lesser Whiter-fronted Goose. All the lesser were observed at the fish-ponds of Virágos Kút. Janos Tar interpreted that these lesser white-fronted geese (among the White-fronts) are probably of Russian origin as the Norwegian lesser white-fronted geese are normally in separate flocks. (Source: Jarmo Pääläinen by phone to Juha Markkola ).
