Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 10:13:02 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Chris Starling Subject: Perry Point (Cecil) GWFG- Yes? Greetings: Today I took a closer look at the Perry Point VA Facility for the GWFG. I did manage to locate a goose that resembled a Greater White- fronted Goose. However, I am not sure if the goose in question is indeed a GWFG. It certainly resembled a GWFG in all respects but it was lacking the white ring around the bill. The bill was very much like a GWFG goose and not that of a Greylag Goose. There were very small hints of of a white ring but nothing prominant. Another reason I am leaning towards GWFG is because of the lack of the "sagging" belly one generally observes in the barnyard varieties of ducks and geese. The Perry Point goose in question was shaped, walked, and had an overall "GISS" of a wild goose and not that of a domestic bird. The bill and legs were noticably orange not yellow as Sibley's suggests for Greylag-types. The bird I saw was similar to Sibley's description of a Juvenile Greenland GWFG except that it had a more orange- ish bill and legs. I have only seen 2 or 3 Greylags around here and they have moslty been white and I havent seen them for many months. If anyone is interested in seeing the bird call me on my cell-phone 443-553-6804 and I'll help you find it. If am not avaialbe I saw it feeding on the rocky beach with Canada Geese east of the patient's fishing pier in fornt of building 22H. To Les Eastman, can you provide a description of what your club members saw at Perry Point last week? Given my description and your greater experience, what do others think of this goose. Good Birding, Chris Starling christopher.starling@med.va.gov ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================