ML550799421

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

rating is actually zero

Observation details

Continuing; scoped from Avenue C at the Highway 14 overpass looking south east to the berm (not where it was the prior day, see checklist comments). DR writes: "As we understand it, this Bean Goose was discovered by Jon Feenstra at Piute Ponds on 6 March, and refound here that same date. Our views were scope view from the Avenue C overpass, but it very good light for that distance. It was in a flock that appeared on the WTP berm of 5 Canada Goose, 1 adult Greater White-fronted, and this dark-headed goose. This goose appeared to be paired with the GWFG, and over time they changed from the left-hand most geese to the right-hand most geese as the much larger moffitti Canada Geese walked north past them. The Bean Goose had a dark brown head head and neck (no white on face), with a rounded head and 'average' bill shape (for this size of goose) that was black with a visible orange distal patch on the bill. Upperparts and wings paler brown, a light brownish breast (well demarcated from dark-brown 'stocking' hood of head/neck), white belly and undertail coverts. I did not see the tail nor legs on the grassy berm. My experience with any Bean-Goose is limited, but it looked "average" overall, to wit, not particularly long-necked, not particularly long-or-heavy-billed. Once, when this goose was facing our direction, it flapped its wings, showing dark blackish undersides to remiges contrasting with paler brown underwing coverts. As far as I could tell from this distance, wing molt had been completed, leaving no gaps or obviously growing in feathers (but, of course, we were a long way away)." Absolutely terrible photos appended: first with with a 500mm lens (Bean Goose on left) and the second is a digiscope effort with an iPhone (Bean Goose on right). Neither shows much except relative size vis-a-vis large Canada Geese; an all-dark head and neck; and maybe a glint on pale (orange?) on bill; and maybe pale (orange?) legs. Yeccch.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM +1.4x

ISO

1600

Focal length

560 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/8000 sec

Dimensions

577 pixels x 379 pixels

Original file size

68.71 KB