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
>
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