Date: 6/19/12 6:34 am
From: Donald Sweig <skybear41...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Interesting Hybrid Goose; C&O canal, Swains Lock


Two birding friends and I walked up river from Swains Lock yesterday afternoon about half way to Pennyfield. Between Swain's and the WSSC plant there were a number of Canada Geese in the canal. Amongst the Canada geese was a very interesting apparently hybrid goose. The facial pattern and general coloring (including legs, feet, bill and face), suggested an immature Greater White-Fronted goose, but it had the bold white facial patches of the Canada geese. They were all swimming quietly together and seemed very tame and unafraid. If anyone is up in that area and sees this goose, I'd be interested in what anyone thinks it really is.
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.