Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2002 15:25:49 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Re: Very small form Canada almost in Maryland In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Hi Dave (el al.) When we first saw the ?? Canada Goose, we thought the head *did* look very rounded and the bill tiny. Later, when it was actively feeding and the head wet, the forehead looked flatter. But it doesn't have the "trademarks" of Richardson's Goose (paler gray breast) and it is even smaller BUT... we all need to try and get photos or videos of this bird. BTW, it was (at the time we saw it) only about 700 yards from Maryland! Gail Mackiernan Colesville, MD On Sat, 9 Feb 2002, David Mozurkewich wrote: > Gail, > > I, too, crossed the dreaded Wilson's Bridge this morning in search of an > enjoyable, non-Maryland birding experience. Although I spent most of my > time birding in that other state, I justified the trip as an excuse to > search for waterfowl in the PG county portion of the Potomac River from an > angle I don't usually exploit. For anyone else considering this outing -- > don't bother; the only PG county waterfowl were Canada Geese and > Buffleheads, although I did see two Catbirds in Dike Marsh and ran into a > local who claims a half-dozen Loons are wintering there. But the > out-of-state geese were great. > > > I started at Cameron Run, then hit several places along the Potomac from > Dike Marsh to Mt Vernon and ended up at the north end of Belle Haven. I > arrived at the stone bridge about 10:30. The odd Canada was one of the > closest geese present. Lacking experience with these small Canada's, I > did not notice the white base to this bird's neck, but I did not look > explicitly for it and I was lacking your firepower. The goose was very > small with a remarkably tiny bill; perhaps even smaller than on the (more > typical?) Richardson's Geese I did see earlier this winter. I don't like > the Richardson's Goose ID for this bird since it was darker than what I > expected, but I don't like the Cackling Goose ID either since they are > supposed to have round heads. While I was there, this bird had a steep > forehead and a flat crown. I called it Richardson's-like (perhaps > incorrectly) based on shape rather than plumage and walked south. I, too, > am very interested in additional comments on the identity of this bird. > > When I returned to the bridge about 11:30, the small goose, now absent, > was replace by a nice Blue Goose. Yet another fine bird almost within > sight of DC (and PG) waters. > > So I ended the morning with four "species" of geese; not bad on this side > of the bay. > > Dave > > ======================================================================= > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > ======================================================================= > ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================