Tweeters,

Despite the ominous date of Friday the 13th, the Bean Goose was again
present at one of its typical spots. A number of other birders had already
been scoping the goose when we arrived at Grays Harbor NWR this morning at
10:30. The bird was being seen - as on several recent days - from well out
along the Sandpiper Trail boardwalk into the refuge, as the Bean Goose and
seven Dusky Canada Geese grazed near the west end of the airstrip's grassy
edge. The best viewing was from the boardwalk, about 100' from where the
boardwalk dives back into the tall alders - so perhaps 3/4 of the way out
the boardwalk. This is about a 15 minute walk from where you park to enter
the refuge.

A number of us (including Sally Alhadeff, Scott Mills, Sam Agnew, Monica
Roller, and Verna Timm) scoped the bird for at least half an hour as it
grazed at the far side of the airstrip grass toward the bay, probably 250 m.
distant. At one point a plane coming in for a landing put the eight geese
up in the air, and they circled briefly and landed within 75 m. of us,
allowing great scope views. Much descriptive information about the goose
has graced a week of Tweeters messages, so I won't reiterate this in great
detail. Just these notes: this Bean Goose is at least the size of the Dusky
Canadas it was with, but with a slimmer body, a distinctive head shape
somewhat reminiscent of a Canvasback, a rather long bill with an orangish
subterminal area, all of which seems more indicative of middendorfii than
the other four subspecies described by Madge and Burn in "Waterfowl" (1988).
An amazingly rare bird for the region!

You might check out the Farmer's Market in Hoquiam for local color and good
eats if you have the time.


Good luck on the goose chase,
Bob Sundstrom


Bob Sundstrom
ixoreus at scattercreek.com
Tenino, WA