Hi Tweeters,

The two Pink-footed Geese were present today about 12:10 p.m. at the south
end of "K" Street in Hoquiam. "K" Street runs south from Emerson St./Hwy.
109, the main drag through Hoquiam. The two geese were together - among
perhaps 200 Canada Geese - in the large field at the south end of "K" on the
far side of the railroad tracks. These fields abut the mouth of the Hoquiam
R. and Grays Harbor.
Three of us watched the birds on the ground at fairly close range for
several minutes, close enough and in good light to see rosy pink legs and
feet and no apparent bands on at least one of the birds. I had hoped for an
in-flight view of the birds which would offer better distinguishing features
vs. Bean Goose, and I didn't have to wait long. A few minutes into our
scoping the geese, a woman unleashed two dogs on the far side of the field.
All the geese flew up, and we had several good views of the Pink-footeds in
flight as the birds circled. After a few minutes the Pink-footeds
separated from the Canadas and dropped onto the edge of Grays Harbor, beyond
where we could see them.
We had very good views of the dorsal surface and upper tail. The wings show
extensive bluish-gray and the tail has a very wide white trailing edge and
relatively restricted dark band between the white trailing edge and white
base of tail. Both of these features point strongly to Pink-footed Goose
vs. Bean Goose [see Mullarney, et al, Birds of Europe (1999), p. 42-43].
The petite dark bills of these small geese were marked with a band of rosy
pink. (The much more massive Greylag Goose has a somewhat similar dorsal
pattern, but the bill and structure aren't even close. I had seen these two
species side by side in Iceland.)
You still have to wonder how these particular birds ended up in Hoquiam.

Good birding, Bob


Bob Sundstrom
ixoreus at scattercreek.com
Tenino, WA