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Subject:

Ross's Goose-Cecil Co.

From:

Mark Johnson

Reply-To:

Mark Johnson

Date:

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:05:00 -0500

Yesterday I stopped along Rte 213 just east of Cecilton to check out a huge flock of Snow Geese, some of which were very close to the road. I noticed several blue-phase geese foraging together. There were eight of them-two adults and six juveniles-and they appeared to be staying in a pretty tight group. I was so focused on them that it took me a couple minutes to notice a Ross's Goose in their midst. This bird had a lot of very dark, blotchy gray on the back and shoulders, so I assumed it was a juvenile white-phase, but I've never seen one with such prominent dark markings. I'd be interested to hear comments/opinions about this bird's appearance. Might it be an intermediate between the two color phases, or just a dark juvenile white-phase? I'd also be interested to hear comments on the likelihood of the blue-phase Snow Geese all being related. Does a pairing between two blue-phase geese necessarily result in all blue-phase offspring? Here's a link to the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/27381338@N03/6714669977/in/photostream/ .

Mark Johnson
Aberdeen

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