ML23005251

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

**Rare. Remarkably this is the second Ross’s Goose in the near vicinity and I happened across this bird while attempting to locate the previously reported Ross's Goose from Amityville. I found the bird feeding in the north ball field at Berner Junior High School with 7 Canada Geese. The tiny, white goose stood out immediately. Diminutive compared to the larger Canadas with a deep pink-toned bill and legs. Very small bill with blueish tinged base and slightest grin patch (well in range for Ross’s). Straighter feather border where bill meets face. I noticed the bird was lacking the yellowish stained flanks as seen on Avon Lake Ross’s Goose and highly considered the possibility of this being a second individual. Sure enough a post came in to NYBirds stating that the Avon Lake Ross’s Goose was present (while I was still watching this bird). I continued to observe the bird for over an hour. At one point a larger flock came in from the north and the Ross’s left the group of 7 to try and join this oncoming flock in flight. It almost seemed as if the Ross’s was trying to find a new group to associate with. The Ross’s did join the flock but they all ended up landing back in the same field. All of the geese eventually flew to their presumed roost site to the SW at Unqua Lake in Massapequa Park. Some images attached:

Technical information

Model

NIKON D7100

Lens

300.0 mm f/4.0

ISO

500

Focal length

420 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/800 sec

Dimensions

4312 pixels x 2875 pixels

Original file size

7.34 MB