Many thanks to all who replied with help!  The comparison pictures are 
great, as is the advice of experts, especially the cautions.

Based on the observations of the bird's bill of my two companions, my 
wife and my daughter, I would say it was probably a cackling goose.  
However, since this would be a lifer for me, I am not going to tick it 
off until I do a better job myself of observing the key field marks. 
(And next time I will make sure that there are some Canadas nearby for 
comparison!)

Gary


Phil Davis wrote:

> Hi Gary, et al.
>
> Richardson's Cackling Goose is annual in Maryland has been recorded in 
> virtually every county. The taxonomy of the "white-cheeked geese" 
> complex was updated several years and more changes are expected.
>
> There are a number of other good references on the web ... here's Dave 
> Sibley's web page, which is more detailed than his field guide, and 
> includes a nice map at the end ...
>
>         http://www.sibleyguides.com/canada_cackling.htm
>
> Hope this helps ...
>
> Phil
>
>
> At 18:41 11/30/2008, Gary Ender (home) wrote:
>
>> Thanks, Larry.
>>
>> From the winter range, it would seem that either this was one 
>> cackling goose individual blown way off course (and therefore pretty 
>> rare in these parts?) or it was a very small Canada.  Cornell gives 
>> the winter range of the cackling goose as no further east than 
>> western Louisana.
>>
>> Can anyone tell me what our MD records imply about the chances of 
>> seeing a cackling goose in Montgomery County at this time?
>>
>> Gary Ender
>> Bethesda MD
>>
>>
>> Larry Hitchens wrote:
>>
>>> Gary,
>>>
>>>     While I also like to refer to Sibley's from time to time
>>> A "Drawing" sometimes does not depict the subtle differences
>>> That a photograph can so I refer to the Cornel Ornithology website
>>> Here's a link to the Cackling goose on that site.
>>> http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cackling_Goose.html 
>>>
>>>                   Larry Hitchens
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>>> Behalf Of Gary Ender (home)
>>> Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 11:11 AM
>>> To: 
>>> Subject: [MDOSPREY] ID help: Cackling goose?
>>>
>>> Yesterday we visited Blue Mash Nature Trail just before dusk.  On 
>>> the pond there was one very small goose that in my 2003 Sibley would 
>>> have been a Richardson's based on size.  We viewed it in good light 
>>> and from not far away.  It was the size of a large duck, and the 
>>> neck was much shorter than that of a normal Canada.  We observed it 
>>> swimming and walking.  It did not make any sound.  The only other 
>>> bird in the area was a Great Blue Heron.  My own guess about the 
>>> bill is that it was of the same proportions as a Canada, while my 
>>> wife, who is very observant but does not claim to be a birder, 
>>> thought it was stubbier.
>>>
>>> Does size alone make this now a Cackling Goose?  Does location and 
>>> time of year add any value?
>>>
>>> I found a web page by Sibley that started to list the identification 
>>> issues, but they are quite complex and neither my Yellowbook nor my 
>>> Sibley book is any help here.  Expert guidance appreciated.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Gary Ender
>>> Bethesda MD
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> ===================================================
>> 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
>> ===================================================
>
>