Yesterday, Jan 2, about 3 PM Marion and I chanced upon a small flock (some 
40 or so) of Canada Geese near the junction of Black Dog Alley and Kingston 
Landing Road in Talbot County.  The Geese were close to the road (perhaps 
20-25 yards away), and were not moving about much, so we had excellent 
binocular views ( 8 x) without getting out of the car.  Among the geese was 
one Richardson's identified by small size, stubby bill, steep forehead, and 
short neck.    Perhaps because of the short distance and the very good 
angle of the light, I was readily able to see that the back of this goose 
had a distinctively grayer tone than the browner hue on the backs of  the 
Canadas, something my eyes had not been able to make out to my satisfaction 
in the Cackling Geese I had seen recently, although I was looking for 
it.  Independently, Marion and I both noticed that the white cheek patches 
had a faint, but distinct, yellowish tone not present on the nearby 
Canadas.  I have not seen this feature referred to, or commented upon, in 
material on Cackling Goose and wonder if it was just some external 
discoloration, or if others have read about, or noticed, a similar feature 
on other Cackling Geese.

Harvey Mudd

____________________________________
S. Harvey Mudd
NIMH/DIRP/LMB
Building 35, Room 1B1006
35 Lincoln Dr.
BETHESDA MD 20892
tel: 301-496-0681;  fax 301-402-0245
email: