I have stopped by this location on my way home from work 3 different times now
over the last 4 days and observed the aforementioned odd goose. The size,
shape, and structure of this bird is consistent with Canada Goose not Greater
White-fronted Goose. This bird appears to be either a hybrid or maybe just an
aberrant Canada Goose. There is no barring on the belly, the legs are darkish,
the bill is quite long and stout, and the tail pattern appears to be that of a
normal Canada Goose. Overall, in my humble opinion, this bird shows little if
any resemblance to Greater White-fronted Goose.
Cheers,
Mike
Michael R. BoatwrightAmherst, VA
From: elisaenders@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:27:12 -0400
Subject: [Va-bird] FW: "White-fronted"(?) Goose again at WalMart distn.
center; photo needed? (Zion Crossroads)
My father asked me to forward the e-mail below, regarding a goose near Zion
Crossroads. His e-mail did not go through to VA-birds.
Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA
From: fkenders@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: "White-fronted"(?) Goose again at WalMart distn. center; photo
needed?
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:45:45 -0400
Exit 136, off US15 north from I-64 (Zion X-Rds exit) has a pond behind the
Wal-Mart distribution center where a White-fronted Goose was recently
reported.
I saw this bird today around 3PM. If one drives to the east side and back of
the Lowe's, the pond is easily visible. Some 25 Canada Geese were scattered
in there and this strange goose flew in by itself, then later was chased (to
fly 40 feet) by a Canada, clearly visible very close to the Lowe's today.
Many of the Canadas were paired up but the White-front was not.
PERHAPS SOMEBODY NEEDS TO PROVIDE A PHOTO?
It does not seem to match the Sibley nor the European Peterson images for
White-front, unless this is a weird immature; possibly a hybrid.
Could it be the same bird seen near the Short-eared Owl fields, a winter ago,
and does it remain in the area through the summer?
The bird in question lacks the definite white in front of the bill. Pink
beak and yellowish or pink (two different observers' opinions) feet. Shorter,
thicker neck than Canadas. Dark eyes and neck with a sort of white cheek
patch which had me wondering about Barnacle Goose, the white patch being both
in front and behind the eye. White near the tail end of the side while on
ground or in water, with white band on rump in flight.
This made me really regret my failure to get set up to take pictures.
When I have seen White-fronts they generally were in big bunches in their
normal range, and I guess I failed to search through the flocks for
non-typical or aberrantly-plumaged individuals.
Frank Enders, Halifax, NC
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