I was trying to cast doubt on the original post, doubt that the bird at the
WalMart distribution center was a Greater White-fronted Goose. I am told by
Mary Enders, Fenton Day, and Elisa Enders that the bird at the Short-eared Owl
spot was a definite White-front. I am told I should not have wondered if that
bird was the same as this one (but molting). Therefore, I still wonder if
this (probable) hybrid will remain through the next summer. Unfortunately, I
think Michael Boatwright must have looked at a different goose at the WalMart
distn. center. The bird Mary and I saw this year had light-colored beak and
feet, pink beak, yellowish to pink (could be called orange?) feet and legs,
with a thicker, heavier, shorter neck disproportionate to the Canada Geese in
direct comparison. I will grant to Mr. Boatwright the bird probably lacked the
barring, and certainly lacked the DEFINITE white mark behind the beak seen in
White-fronts. (After it was chased by the Canada, the strange bird I saw was
on the water, so I could not look at barring or lack thereof after it was
chased by the Canada, when I was writing down its field marks.)Repeating, I
think that the bird he saw with darkish legs and long beak could not be the
bird I saw, due to the color and proportions (structure) of the shorter neck
and head of the bird I saw, relative to its stouter body. But, how can there
be two weird geese at the same small site, and not be found simultaneously?
Perhaps his bird had mud on beak and legs, but that should wash off; the color
was so obvious on the bird Mary and I saw! In a website of hybrid geese, the
closest match was Greylag x Canada. Thinking how the bird (Mary and I saw)
looked, Greater White-front x Canada) also seems reasonably likely. (And, the
actual parents of the hybrids on the website are not known, just guessed at
from the appearances of the supposed hybrids; of course, we do not know the
actual parents of any birds we see in the field--we just assume that a bird
which looks like a Mourning Dove had Mourning Doves as parents, and one that
looks like a Sharp-shinned Hawk had Sharpies as parents, and so forth.) I am
satisfied this is some (confusing) hybrid, not a White-front as originally
stated by the first person to report it. A photo might help describe the bird,
but still would leave it impossible to identify. Perhaps best to just ignore
the bird, sort of denying it exists.
Frank Enders, Halifax, NC
From: mboater@xxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:28:14 -0400
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] FW: "White-fronted"(?) Goose again at WalMart distn.
center; photo needed? (Zion Crossroads)
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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