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
mailto:[log in to unmask]
MD/DCRC Web site: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
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