Howdy yall,

I've been intently watching for geese since the semester started in an
attempt to join the goose parade. Finally, I was rewarded with several
flocks and hundreds of geese (about 610, not nearly the record, but much
more than last week). The first rare goose was a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE, an adult with the jagged smattering of black on the belly, white
around the base of the bill, and 3/4 the size of the Canadas. At the same
time, another flock flew by, containing a single CACKLING GOOSE (almost
duck-sized, petite bill). Lastly, from a distance I saw a flock with 9 white
geese flying toward me, and got very excited! However, my excitement was
somewhat extinguished as I saw almost all were purely white (no white
wingtips = domestics). However, one remained to be a DARK-PHASE SNOW GOOSE,
with a white belly, white neck and head, and dark wings, breast, and collar.
I also noted white on the scapulars.

One of the domestic geese was HUGE! Imagine 1.5x the size of a Canada, with
a very thick neck. It was white and gray.

Additionally, it appears that much of the same geese are still around the
Olentangy today (1/17), though the white-fronted is the only rarity I've
seen today.

Goose birding,

Sean


---
Sean Williams, '11
Undergraduate of Ornithology of Dr. Jed Burtt
Ohio Wesleyan University
HWCC 724
Delaware, OH 43015
617-470-4094

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