Sherry,
   I believe the small bird in your photos has the typical bill shape of a Canada Goose and is not one of the small races (or Cackling Goose these days).  I remember seeing this bird at Centennial and I think it is one of the resident birds.  That is why it is easily approached.  Cackling Goose would have a short stubby bill not the gently sloping bill I see in the photos.  Since there is such a large variation in size among typical Canada Geese we need to look closer than just finding a smaller bird in the flock.  This was the problem I had at Chestertown last Saturday.  Because of the distance and heat shimmer I couldn't be sure I was seeing Cackling Geese or very small Canadas.
   I believe the bird that Matt saw at Centennial on March 1 was a different one.  Matt, if you are reading this can you add any comment on Sherry's photos?


>
> From: Sherry <>
> Date: 2004/09/29 Wed PM 11:06:25 EDT
> To: 
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Cackling Geese?
>
> Bob,
>
> I've had some problems and haven't been able to follow MDOsprey, so I'm
> not sure what led up to this the two posts below, but if the Centennial
> goose you're referring to is the one I photographed on 2/26/04, the
> pictures are here:
>
>                     http://flyaway.smugmug.com/gallery/74843/
>
> Clicking "Original" size (under the photo) will get you the full size
> photos. There are two pictures (the third is a composite of the first
> two) of the small-race goose and a common CAGO. They were headed across
> the parking lot, and stayed ahead of me, so I couldn't get any shots
> from the front.
>
> If it's a different goose, please let me know when it was seen.
>
> Sherry
>


Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD