Subject: two Ross'geese?
Date: Jan 28 10:57:32 1995
From: Thomas Cotner - tcotner at u.washington.edu


Dear BIRDFOLK,
Yesterday I saw the Ross' goose in the large field about 1/4 mile north
of the intersection of 68thS and 212th. It was in the Boeing Space
Center fields near the small,deep basin pond. It was in with a flock of
100 Canada and one *other* white goose, which I initially thought was a
2nd Ross' goose but I finally concluded was a snow goose. (Another
birder who came later was convinced it was a 2nd Ross' goose and took
photos ). When in the fields it made an interesting
comparison and a daunting task to try to pick out a Ross' in a large
field of snow geese.
The Ross' goose had what I thought were 3 distinguishing (though subtle)
characteristics. The most striking feature to me was
the length of the neck--it looked about an inch or so shorter. The nose
looked slightly more pert and the upper part appeared to invade the face
to a lesser degree. It also seemed smaller--but only in an obvious
manner when they both crossed the road together--in the fields eating
side by side it would be a difficult call. I later saw the Ross' goose in
flight over the Kent ponds where in three sweeping loops ( a bald eagle
was in flight or they probably would have landed) it always
flew on the outside or at the rear of the vee--it never assumed an internal
position and only once advanced to the outside of the 2nd or 3rd to
last Canada. I saw my first Ross' goose in another age at Tulelake in N.
California and thought it an easy i.d. and am now thankful for my
reeducation in this simplest of *mixed* flocks--if indeed the second
goose was a snow goose! Check it out!(no voting on this one please--it
either is or isn't).
Tom Cotner
tcotner at u.washington.edu
Pediatrics/Immunology
U. of Washington
206 543-6755