Ryan, et al.

Richardson's Cackling Geese generally have lighter, grayish breasts. 
If this bird had a dark breast, it might deserve another look ... and 
photograph. Other candidates could include the small _minima_ form of 
Cackling Goose or the _parvipes_ form of Lesser Canada Goose.

FYI ...

         http://www.idahobirds.net/identification/white-cheeked/subspecies.html

Phil


At 09:58 02/27/2009, Ryan Farrell wrote:
>Unable to get over to Lake Artemesia some weeks ago when the Ross' 
>Geese were there, I took advantage of a needed car servicing in 
>Hyattsville, and biked by Lake Artemesia on my way to campus this morning.
>
>In addition to the usual waterfowl, I was delighted to find a 
>diminutive (Richardson's?) CACKLING GOOSE, easily distinguished from 
>the hundreds of Canada's present.  I was fortunate, in that as soon 
>as I rounded the bend and saw all the Canadas, there was another 
>that I thought, "either that's a duck or..." and sure enough it was 
>a Cackling Goose.  It had a rather dark chest and what's normally 
>white on the cheek was rather dim as well.

===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
301-261-0184
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MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
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