Hi:

Thanks for all who have responded to my "unidentified" goose which I thought
could be a cross. All who responded said Cackling Goose.

After telling some who I responded to that my Sibley's (2003) doesn't have
one listed, I find that it does have a picture, but from their picture would
never have guessed it, again - probably due to my angle of view. After
looking at all the pictures that I was sent and the links that took me to
others, I'm quite sure that it was a Cackling Goose. It was just below me
as I walked around that dock and I kept looking for markings similar to the
Canadian Geese around it, and I didn't see them. Specifically I was looking
for the bright white rump and the white mark on the neck. I didn't see
either. The rump was dusty white, but not like the larger geese and I could
see no white on the neck at all. However, I was looking down and its neck
could easily have been resting in a position that didn't make it visible,
and the bird may have had a lower water line than the full size Canadians.

I didn't have a clue to think about a Cackling Goose - didn't even know they
were around, but will keep watching and hope that I see it again. Will know
better what to look for and will also try to get down to their level.

Thanks again for your help.

Jim Brewster
Tacoma
BrewsHome at thewiredcity.net