Ten birders went on the ELWAS 4th Mon. of the month field trip. This time we
went to the Montlake Fill on a foggy, cool, 32-34 day. We only saw 27
species, but had some interesting geese. In one flock of about 30 Canada
Geese, we had a smaller goose that had a white neck ring like the
illustration in the NGS book for the Aleutian subspecies. Has anyone else
observed this goose? Also, in this same flock was another smaller goose which
fits the illustration for a white morph immature Snow Goose. Later an adult
SNOW GOOSE flew into Shoveler Pond.

In another flock of geese on the west side of the main pond (no. of Shoveler)
there was a Canada Goose with a large white neck band with 027T on the band.
It also had a smaller silver band on its right leg. Next to this goose was
another goose the same size with standard Canada markings except it was white
on the side of its face and the neck was a speckled white and black. We would
be interested in any comments anyone else would have about these geese. Other
birds of interest we saw were:

Mute Swan - regularly seen in Union Bay
8 other waterfowl
Hooded and Common Merganser
1 Ring-necked Pheasant

The area has changed a lot since we were last there. All the blackberry vines
have been cut down and cuttings removed. It really opens up the area and
gives it a totally different look. I am sure a lot of birds were using the
blackberries for cover and may be the reason we didn't see more small birds.
It will be interesting to see it again in the spring when things start
growing out again.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
hughbirder at aol.com