Re: White-fronted Goose

Don Burggraf (dburggraf@hotmail.com)
Sun, 21 Mar 1999 17:50:17 PST 

Dear Robert,

Thanks for your note.  

Time:  9:30 a.m.
Observer:  I was alone.

I watched a red-tailed hawk fly over a field on the opposite side of 
Bread and Cheese Creek.  Just as the hawk passed over, a flock of geese 
took to the air, and started flying in my direction.  There were about 
thirty-five Canada geese in the flock.  Most of the geese descended to 
the creek in front of me, but four continued flying North.  As they 
approached, I was surprised to hear one calling in a distinctly 
different manner than the Canada's honking.  As I remember it now, it 
sounded higher and sharper than the Canadas.  I looked at the four birds 
through my binoculars (Nikon, 7X50) and noticed that the second bird was 
a goose that showed a brown head, a brown neck, brown chest and 
underparts.  The wing color was not much different from the body.  I did 
not see the rump.  It was smaller than the Canadas.  The bill appeared 
to show pinkish color. I did not notice white behind the bill.  This 
suggested to me that it might be an immature.  You asked about the race 
of the goose.  I have only seen Greater White-fronted Geese before when 
I lived in Colorado, so I am unfamiliar with the Greenland race.  As I 
said, the bill appeared to have a pinkish cast to it.  However, I have 
to admit that since I did not get more than a fly-over look, I cannot 
attest with certainty as to the race.  The birds continued flying North 
together until they were lost from my sight.  I was unable to relocate 
the bird afterward.

This is the first time I have made a report such as this concerning a 
bird which may be a county record.  I do not know who makes a decision 
as to whether a report can be accepted, or whether my observations would 
satisfy existing criteria for this bird.  If I should make further 
reports, I would appreciate it if you would let me know.

Thanks very much.

Don Burggraf
Baltimore
dburggraf@hotmail.com

>From: Robert Ringler <ringler@cct.infi.net>
>Reply-To: mdosprey@ARI.Net
>To: MDOsprey@ARI.Net
>Subject: Re: White-fronted Goose
>Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 00:03:51 -0800
>
>Don,
>	After seeing your note about White-fronted Goose I realized there 
>are no records for Baltimore County.  Could you give us some more 
>information?  Was it a Greenland race (which usually occurs here) or 
>North American race?  Was it an adult or immature?  How big was it 
>compared to the Canada Geese?  Did it fly with the other geese or 
alone?
>
>				Bob Ringler

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