[Birdnet] Greater White-fronted Goose at Kaysville Ponds

[Kristin Purdy]

A juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Kaysville Ponds in Davis 
County today. The bird is keeping with the Canada Geese there and wants 
nothing to do with the domestic Graylags and Barnyard Geese that are 
omnipresent at this location.

The GWFG is showing virtually none of the adult characters as is appropriate 
for this age and time of year, so bear with me. The features that have not 
yet developed are the white "front" around the base of the upper mandible, 
although some white flecks are starting to show in the dark line on the face 
around the beak, the speckled belly, and the white flank line that divides 
the wings from the flanks. Sibley shows a good representation of this bird. 
The beak, however, is a dusty pale orange, the heels, which I could see as 
the bird paddled, are a strong orange, and the bird was about the size of a 
Snow Goose or 2/3 the size of the Canada Geese with which it was swimming.

The adult Graylags present are large and lumpy and make for a good 
comparison, even though the GWFG avoided them. I didn't see any Hooded 
Mergansers today.

The north pond of the series holds the birds, as usual, and even though you 
can't park along the street, there's an LDS church across the street from 
the north pond where I usually park, and then walk across. Check your shoes 
for goose poop before you return to your car; it's unavoidable.

For more information on Kaysville Ponds, launch the link below.

Kris

http://www.utahbirds.org/counties/davis/locations.htm