Dear Robert, Thanks for your note. Time: 9:30 a.m. Observer: I was alone. I watched a red-tailed hawk fly over a field on the opposite side of Bread and Cheese Creek. Just as the hawk passed over, a flock of geese took to the air, and started flying in my direction. There were about thirty-five Canada geese in the flock. Most of the geese descended to the creek in front of me, but four continued flying North. As they approached, I was surprised to hear one calling in a distinctly different manner than the Canada's honking. As I remember it now, it sounded higher and sharper than the Canadas. I looked at the four birds through my binoculars (Nikon, 7X50) and noticed that the second bird was a goose that showed a brown head, a brown neck, brown chest and underparts. The wing color was not much different from the body. I did not see the rump. It was smaller than the Canadas. The bill appeared to show pinkish color. I did not notice white behind the bill. This suggested to me that it might be an immature. You asked about the race of the goose. I have only seen Greater White-fronted Geese before when I lived in Colorado, so I am unfamiliar with the Greenland race. As I said, the bill appeared to have a pinkish cast to it. However, I have to admit that since I did not get more than a fly-over look, I cannot attest with certainty as to the race. The birds continued flying North together until they were lost from my sight. I was unable to relocate the bird afterward. This is the first time I have made a report such as this concerning a bird which may be a county record. I do not know who makes a decision as to whether a report can be accepted, or whether my observations would satisfy existing criteria for this bird. If I should make further reports, I would appreciate it if you would let me know. Thanks very much. Don Burggraf Baltimore dburggraf@hotmail.com >From: Robert Ringler <ringler@cct.infi.net> >Reply-To: mdosprey@ARI.Net >To: MDOsprey@ARI.Net >Subject: Re: White-fronted Goose >Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 00:03:51 -0800 > >Don, > After seeing your note about White-fronted Goose I realized there >are no records for Baltimore County. Could you give us some more >information? Was it a Greenland race (which usually occurs here) or >North American race? Was it an adult or immature? How big was it >compared to the Canada Geese? Did it fly with the other geese or alone? > > Bob Ringler Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com/