European geese make huge splash in rare Israel visit
Bean Goose, which originates from northern Europe, Siberia, normally migrates to damp European regions; this is only the second sighting in Israel.
By Eli Ashkenazi

Mere days after the Hula Valley reservation was graced with a rare visit by a flock of singing swans, another aviary wonder has made its way to northern Israel, this time by the equally rare Bean Goose.

The Bean Goose nests in northern Europe and Siberia and migrates to damp regions of Europe during the winter. This is the second sighting of the kind in Israel, with the first one being in Eilat in 2007.
Bean Goose – 15.12.2011

Bean Goose over northern Israel, Dec. 15, 2011.
Photo by: Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel

Birdwatcher Tuviah Kahn from the Ein Harod (Meuhad) kibbutz was the lucky man to spot the aerial visitor while visiting a water reservoir near Emek Yisrael’s Kfar Baruch.

According to Khan, he was “looking through the telescope when I suddenly saw a goose that caught my attention. After watching it for about half an hour we recognized it as a Bean Goose, and there was much excitement.”

“Immediately knew that it was an important discovery, and explained it to the people with me, Kahn said, saying that the goose was too busy munching on grass and swimming in the reservoir to notice the commotion.

A little over a week ago, a flock of nine singing swans was spotted in the Hula Valley, after more than a decade.

The swans came from northern Europe, and are considered one of the largest species of flying birds.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel said that was a rare sight, since these birds usually nest during winter in Europe and around the Caspian Sea. Israel is the southern-most point they reach. The last time these swans were spotted here was 2001.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/european-geese-make-huge-splash-in-rare-israel-visit-1.401606