Early this afternoon, around 12:30, I found two CACKLING GEESE in a 
flock of about 1000 Canada Geese along MD Rte. 216 in Fulton.  They 
were foraging on the lawn of a farm house that overlooks a small pond 
that is immediately adjacent to Fulton Elementary School.  I was able 
to pick them out of the crowd due to their smaller size (about 30% 
smaller), short necks, small heads, and stubby bills.  Also, I thought 
that they differed in overall color - a lighter, more uniform gray-brown.  
The pair stayed together as they foraged with the other geese.

This pond is part of the same dairy farm where Hans Holbrook 
reported five Richardson's Geese on December 22 (which is why I 
stopped to scrutinize the flock, of course!).  There is a gravel pull-off on 
the south side of Rte. 216, directly across the road from the pond.  
Otherwise, this road has quite narrow shoulders.

From there I went on to Brighton Dam to gawk at the 1000s of 
COMMON MERGANSERS that have taken over the reservoir.  As an 
added bonus, an adult BALD EAGLE soared over the lake.

Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD  (PG County)
 

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