Cackling geese galore Jan 4

[Gord]

Checked Sardis Pond at lunchtime today. Aside from the usual white-fronted goose (moulted his/her juv feathers now) there was a couple American goldfinches, and TONS of cackling geese. There were about a dozen of the real little ones minima ssp but well over a hundred of these other ones that I'm certain are cackling as well. They have high-pitched honks and are smaller than even the smallest Canada goose. I took a bunch of pictures and notes which I will look at more closely time permitting.

If anyone wants to check it out, Im most interested to hear what other's think.

[kastern]

Went over to Sardis Pond today and I'd agree with you re all those little cackling geese. Just went over the photos I took and I'd say they were cackling although there were one or two that seemed to have slightly longer necks....possibly Richardson's ?? but I'm no expert having only ever seen one Cackling goose prior to today.

Saw the Greater White Fronted Goose as well although expert birder that I'm not - I didn't even realize it until I got home and compared my photos with my Sibley's Guide. I would have thought something called a 'Greater' would be much bigger! I had just wondered what the cute little goose hanging around with the Graylag and the Canada Cross was - duh!

Speaking of Canada cross's there was one Canada Goose there today that was much lighter than the normal. Where the neck is normaly black, this one was a sort of chocolate brown and it's tail was white, rather than black.

Kathy

[Gord]

Hi Kathy. Glad you got out and had a look.

Ill post my pictures later tonight. Just getting to them now.

The little white-front sure looks small, especially next to the big guys he likes to hang out with. I double checked on him and the other one that was there in the fall as well because they looked so small!!! I think most birds look smaller close up or in the hand. There was another white-front earlier in the week but it was hanging with the Canada geese and was slightly bigger and wilder. The one that is with the big hybrid graylag geese showed up this fall with another one as juveniles. They both stuck with the barnyard guys until one vanished after a couple weeks. I wonder if they got lost from their flock and, being young, zeroed in on the next closest thing?

I saw the greyish-brown Canada too. Didnt get good pictures though; hope you got better ones. I've seen just a couple others like this before, I think it's call 'leuistic" (spelling?) not albino but something similar where pigment is different, usually lighter.

[Gord]

Here are some pictures. There is no question these are cackling geese. Not all of these guys have white neck bands, Id say about 3 out of 10. A few obvious Canada geese had them too (3 out of 300).












Here's the odd goose.



And the white-fronted.

[Dave]

I feel sorry for the poor guy in the 5th picture...everyone else was born with necks.