ML22267051

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Found on the way home with Betsy from grocery shopping. I suspected this species at first but we only had binoculars and I could not make out any black on the rear of this distant all white swimming goose among the hordes of Canada Geese. Thus, I then suspected it was a white domestic duck. However, when I returned later with a scope, I was happy to see that it was a good Ross's Goose. It was much smaller than the Canada Geese but somewhat larger than the Mallards. It had a very rounded head. The plumage was all white except for black primaries (seen later when the bird flew off, as well as on the folded primaries when the bird was swimming). I did not see nor specifically look for dark on the upper primary coverts. The bill was very small and triangular and was straight up and down at the base where it met the facial feathering. It was pink with blue-gray on the sides of the base. There was no noticeable black along the cutting edge of the mandibles as on a Snow Goose. This bird also seemed much too small for a Snow Goose. Poor photos only - I only had a clear shot when the bird was sleeping.

Technical information

Dimensions

1200 pixels x 621 pixels

Original file size

185.81 KB