ML455128021

Age

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Sex

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Observation details

5 Greater white-fronted geese feeding in the near-shore short grass. I realize all GwFG should be on the arctic tundra by this date. I observed a total of 5 geese (not ducks) in the near-shore short grass. They were observed with Swarovski 10x binoculars and 20-60x spotting scope. I am very familiar with the expected and unexpected geese of the northwest US. I have relatively recently observed hundreds to thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese in the Klamath Falls area in mid to late April, 2022. These were brownish , medium to large geese. There was no white cheek mark (thus eliminating the more expected Canada Goose, and equally unexpected Cackling Goose at this date.) As they walked and foraged, they assumed multiple postures, allowing for observation of multiple parts. They had pink to orange bills, with a noticeable white border with the face. The neck appeared somewhat thick, and con-colorous with the chest and upper belly. The typical black belly marks were not well seen in the field. They had bright orange legs. They had pure white lower rear underparts, from the rear belly to the under tail coverts. No vocalizations were heard. Emperor Goose was quickly eliminated as a possibility, due to incorrect color and size. These were brownish/grayish geese, thus eliminating Snow Goose and Ross’s Goose. They had a noticeable white border of the face to the base of the bill, and appeared “slimmer” than Graylag (or domestic/farmyard) geese. The white facial border also eliminates either Tiaga or Tundra Bean-Goose, as well as Pink-footed Goose. Attached is one terrible digiscoped photo. One goose is barely visible in the right side of the photo, in thegrass, facing the camera, confirming the white facial border.

Technical information

Original file size

2.01 MB