I found two hybrid geese today (12/26) at Black Hill Regional Park that 
I had not seen before, and that seem to fit the description of the 
possible Greater White-fronted Geese previously reported at this 
location on the 24th (see below).

Some middling photos are here: 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35716495@N08/?savedsettings=3300322653#photo3300322653
(you may have to replace " at " in the URL with an "@" since that is 
sometimes automatically converted to hide e-mail addresses when posting 
to this list).

They have pink bills and a white border at the base of the bill. But 
they have a semblance of a white cheek patch and look to be a hybrid 
possibly consisting of part Graylag Goose, part Canada Goose, and 
possibly something else (perhaps Greater White-fronted Goose). They were 
hanging around with the white domestic geese, so I don't think they are 
pure wild hybrids. One had orange legs and the other pink legs.

Otherwise not much else new to report except hundreds of Ring-necked 
Ducks and four Redheads.

Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, Maryland
PLEASE REPORT YOUR BIRD SIGHTINGS to http://ebird.org/

Michael Bowen wrote:
> There were two geese that I believe are possibly Greater White-fronted 
> in with Canada Geese at the Boat Ramp area in the North part of Black 
> Hill Regional Park, Montgomery County, at about 10 a.m. on December 
> 24.  The geese were hanging out with a group of Canada Geese that also 
> contained two all white (obviously domestic type) geese.  The lighting 
> was tough, looking right into the sun's glare, but I could see dark 
> pink bills and a thin white "surround" at the base of the bill of both 
> birds.  I'm not going to speculate as to which White-fronted race they 
> might have been. I never saw leg color.  There were also 3 Gadwall at 
> this same location.  Park personnel have plowed a small parking area 
> across from the boat ramp parking lot, which is unplowed and has deep 
> snow still.  The flattened areas are very icy and slippery, which will 
> only be made worse when it rains.
>
> Perhaps someone will have a chance to check over the waterfowl at this 
> location over the next few days.
>
> Little Seneca Lake is practically 100% ice-free, and there's plenty of 
> room for additional birds.  Apart from Canada Geese, the most common 
> waterfowl were Bufflehead, with 100 or more here and there.  Hooded 
> Mergansers were present in small numbers, and I spotted 3 Common 
> Mergansers and a single male Common Goldeneye.  Ring-necked Duck 
> numbers were much lower than customary for this time of year.
>
> The narrow inlet right by Route 121 at the South part of the lake had 
> a small group of Ruddy Ducks and American Coots.  Mixed in were 10 
> Canvasbacks, half a dozen American Wigeon,  and a lone male Redhead.
>
> Happy Holidays and Good Birding
>
> Mike Bowen
> Montgomery Bird Club
> Bethesda, MD
>
> D.H. Michael Bowen
> 8609 Ewing Drive
> Bethesda, MD  20817
> Telephone: (301) 530-5764
> e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom
>
> -- I use GoodSearch to benefit the American Birding Association --
> http://www.goodsearch.com/