ML333161841

Age and sex

Adult, Unknown sex - 1

Media notes

Close-up to see bill color pattern better.

Observation details

Adult mixed with Canada Geese at the S end of Big Island ; approximately here: 39.9837581, -76.4763032. Kayaked from Blue Rock out and around to the S end of Big Island. Discovered here earlier by Eric Witmer. This is the 2nd record for PA (and 2nd this year!) and 1st record for Lancaster County. It briefly got up and flew a small lap before settling in at the same location again, possibly annoyed by nearby eagle. Gave nasal honks unlike Canada, and more similar to Greater White-fronted Goose. Slightly smaller than Canadas and a paler brown, with thin white flank stripes. Black bill with orange saddle. Thick, blocky head and thick neck. Silvery-gray upperwing coverts and dark-gray flight feathers. Thick black band across white tail. In many ways reminiscent of Pink-footed Goose but with an angry face. Identification of bean-geese is difficult with some overlap in structural features, and even the idea these are two separate species is disputed, however I feel the bill shape, orange saddle pattern, and the bird's overall head/neck structure is largely in favor of Tundra. This bird's bill is fairly short and stubby with a narrow orange band located between the bill tip and nostrils (versus the long, narrow bill and broadly orange/yellow-washed band shown on Taiga). Additionally this bird has a smaller, blocky head and a short, thick neck (versus the rounded head shape and longer neck of Taiga).

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

320

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

1438 pixels x 959 pixels

Original file size

165.74 KB