Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 14:17:03 EST Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: WF Goose in Columbia Hi all -- Barry and I set out before noon to look for the Greater White-fronted Goose at Centennial Lake in Columbia. We wne in at the south entrance to the park, and walked west along the bike path. The Greater WF Goose was with Canadas at the very western end of the lake, between the last and next-to-last island. We located the bird around 12:15 pm. As a matter if interest, the bill of this bird is definitely pink, not orange. The legs are obviously orange and the bill a rather dark pink color (darker than illustrations in Geo guide, for example.) It appeared to me that the color faded somewhat towards the proximal margin, merging into the rather wide white border at the base of the bill;the tip of the bill was also whitish. Also of interest were at least two very small Canada geese, about 2/3 size of the rest of the Canadas, showing rounded heads, short and somewhat dainty bills, and shorter thicker necks. One of these had a very reduced white chin strap as well. When we left at 12:45 the geese were still in the same location. Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper Silver Spring, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================