On a recent birding trip (December 28th, 2008) with Chris Murray to
Blackwater, we found a CANADA GOOSE with a particularly darker hue.
It size however, was consistent with the other CANADA GEESE in the
field.  The location was the North side of Key Wallace Drive, where it
intersects with Greenbrier Road, just to the East of Blackwater NWR.

There is a photo link:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ipy3cdNvNWc/SVrE92i4tDI/AAAAAAAACaw/FBgqBfsO258/s1600-h/IMG_1845.jpg

And a link to my blog post:
http://wahzoh.blogspot.com/2008/12/this-is-not-last-post-of-2008.html

If anyone is out and about in Dorchester, perhaps they could keep an
eye out for it and offer some additional photos, information, etc.

An email from Paul O'Brien suggests the following:
"Either parvipes (Canada) or taverneri (Cackling) would be a rare
western subspecies worthy of documentation.  Size comparisons would be
helpful, as both canadensis and interior Canada Geese weigh @
pounds and both parvipes (Canada) and taverneri (Cackling) weigh
@ pounds.  That should be an obvious difference.  Parvipes has a
rounded head whereas taverneri has a squarish head with a steep
forehead.  Alderfer suggests that a dark goose in the east would more
likely be parvipes, based on known wintering territories."

If I had to chose, it would be one vote for 'parvipes' (Canada).
Anyone else care to weigh in?

Good BIrding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD