ML626671646

Behaketaren xehetasunak

**continuing hybrid here for its second winter. It has been present since at least 29 October this year. Last winter it was present from at least 4 November, 2023 to 13 March, 2024. Then it was spotted on Grand Manan, New Brunswick on 15 April, 2024. It started off very dull and grayish last year, progressively getting more white. See its molt progression here. See my other list from this year with more details. It was very vocal today; more so than I've ever seen it. It called loudly several times and often enough for us to get a few recordings. When it called it usually stood straight upright, raised its head and neck and called pointedly. Although this is not the case for many hybrids, its call sounded like a perfect blend of Snow Goose and Brant. It was higher pitched than the Brant around it and was thinner-sounding and almost squeakier. It sounded less mumbley and gargley than Brant. Although I've seen others note that the Brant will occasionally pick on this hybrid, today it appeared to be successfully holding its own. It defended areas of grass it was feeding on, and defended puddles it was drinking from. It even seemed to be the aggressor of a few minor scuffles. It and most of the Brant were on the grass today. It moved with the flocks between the grass near the parking lot and the grass to the west closer to Fort Phoenix itself. While it was walking across the parking lot we observed it defecating and collected the sample to hopefully be analyzed for DNA.