FYI,
Bar-headed Geese are very common park birds across Europe and have
established feral populations in several countries, including Norway. They
often socialize with mixed Branta/Anser flocks incl. Greater White-fronted
Geese, Pink-footed Geese and Canada Geese during migration and may thus
end up on Greenland and Eastern US. Interestingly, an increasing number of
bot Cackling Goose and Ross's Goose appear along the Norwegian coast
during Barnacle Goose and Brant fall migration. My point is, a lack of leg
bands and/or hind toes says nothing about the origin of these birds and
occurance of vagrants from Asia are considered extremely unlikely in
Western Palearctic.

Beautiful bird anyway!

Cheers,
Frode Jacobsen
Windsor Mill, MD


> Hi everyone:
>
> Bar-headed Geese are Asian and are less likely to be wild/natural
> vagrants than, say, Barnacle Geese. However, they do have wings and
> they do fly ... (This species migrates OVER Mt. Everest!). Photos and
> descriptions are always welcome. If we should happen to find out
> later that other birds were seen in North America, puzzle pieces
> could fit together. That's why its never good to just dismiss them
> ... sometimes we don't know about strange patterns until after the
> birds are gone ... and then it may be too late to put together a good
> file of documentation.
>
> BTW, three birds were seen and photographed at Perry Point in Cecil
> County in May of this year with Canada Geese(!)
>
> Phil
>
>
> At 17:52 10/23/2008, Les Roslund wrote:
>>        At 5:30 until 5:35 this evening I watched a Bar-headed Goose
>> amongst
>>a flock of about 300 Canada Geese in a recently harvested soybean field.
>>After those five minutes the bird lifted up with about 100 of the Canada
>>Geese and flew east-south east over the trees and out of sight.
>>     The bird was about 100 yards away.  I first saw it through 10x42
>> binocs,
>>then pulled up the KOWA spotting scope from the back seat of my truck and
>>watched at 32 power for a couple of minutes until the bird flew.
>>     No bands on either leg.  Head barring, back of neck black region,
>> dusky
>>under chin of otherwide white-headed bird with drab white-grey bird made
>> the
>>ID pretty easy.
>>
>>     My address:  26329 Martingdale Lane, Easton, MD
>>         Bird location was in the bean field off Copperville Road, and
>> beside
>>my driveway.
>>
>>     My phone Number:  410-763-8169
>>
>>     Good luck to anyone who searches.  There are lots of geese in this
>> area,
>>but many of the fields offer easy viewing.
>>
>>     Les Roslund
>>
>>
>>Les Roslund
>>Talbot County
>>Easton MD 21601
>>
>
> ===================================================
> Phil Davis, Secretary
> MD/DC Records Committee
> 2549 Vale Court
> Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
> 301-261-0184
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
> MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
> ===================================================
>
>