[TopOfUtah] Cache Valley Geese Part 2: Fun with goose photos

[Ryan O'Donnell]

As a follow-up to Craig's post, I'm sending a few links to photos of
geese taken today.  (Warning: these are all poor digiscoped shots.)  
 
First, the WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.  This bird was very distant and as Craig
said it spent most of the time with its head down and hiding behind
Canada Geese.  Here is the best shot I could get.  The White-fronted is
near the top of the frame:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/White-frontedGoose.jpg
 
We also saw a minimum of three CACKLING GEESE in this flock.  (Or so I
believe - I'd love to hear your opinions.)  Again, they all were very
far away.  Here is the best shot I could get.  The Cackling Goose is
indicated by the arrow.  Note the size relative to the Canada Goose that
is next to it and compare the shape of the head, length of the neck, and
shape of the bill with the Canada Goose in the background:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/CacklingGoosewitharrow
.jpg
 
If you go looking for these geese, don't be fooled by the few oddballs
in the flock.  A couple geese had hints of the white forehead that is
rarely shown in this species, appearing as just a white dot above the
eye.  One Canada Goose seemed to be a partial albino, with matching
white patches on its left and right flanks:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/PartialAlbinoCanadaGoo
se.jpg
 
Yet another goose seemed to be a hybrid of a Graylag (domestic) Goose
and a Canada Goose:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n105/Tsirtalis/CanadaxGraylagGooseHyb
rid.jpg
 
In other news around Cache Valley, I saw a minimum of 13 Sandhill Cranes
today, another sign of the impending spring.
 
Good birding,
Ryan
 
Ryan P. O'Donnell
Department of Biology and the Ecology Center
Utah State University
5305 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5305
 
http://200birds.blogspot.com