The Merkle ROSS'S GOOSE was very cooperative and entertained a number of 
birders on Saturday afternoon. Between 2:30 and 4:30 it was in view most of the 
time, much of it spent foraging actively in the open field above the main pond, 
but also wading, sleeping and preening. Late in the day it flew over to the 
west side of the pond where it was hard to see behind the weeds and corn stalks.

This bird showed the stubby pink bill, with no trace of a grin patch and the 
grayish, warty base of a mature adult. It also had what appeared to be an area 
of exposed skin connecting the top of the bill to the eye, similar to the 
unfeathered lores on a swan but not as sharply defined.

Other waterfowl present, in addition to an estimated 2000 CANADA GEESE, were 
at least 1 CACKLING GOOSE, 9 GADWALL, 3 AMERICAN WIGEON, 8 MALLARD, 2 BLACK 
DUCK, 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL and 1 AMERICAN COOT.

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD