Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 10:36:01 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Matt Peters Subject: Greater White Fronted Goose hybrid Today between 3:00 and 4:30 I observed what appeared to be a Greater White Fronted Goose x Canada Goose hybrid in a flock of about 30 Canada Geese in a field outside the visitor center at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary. I was scanning the flock of Canadian Geese when I came upon a goose with prominent white around it's bill. The bird had bright orange feet and a different head shape than the Canada Geese. It lacked the black neck and it's overall body coloring matched a Greater White Fronted. There were two catches however. The bird had a grayish-black bill (not pink or orange) and also had a very faint white patch similar to that of a Canada. It was still there when I left and the bird definetly warrents further investigation, although I am confident it was a hybrid. Also of note today was a large flock of at least 30 winter plumaged Bobolinks feeding in the field on the road behing the visitor center with about 6 bluebirds. I also saw several Blue Gray Gnatcatchers and heard a single but clear Barred Owl vocalization in the field in front of the visitor center. At Jug Bay there was a pair of Acadian Flycatchers as well as a Snowy Egret. Matt Peters mattpeters@home.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================