Tweets,



Thanks to Ryan Merrill for picking out the Tule White-fronted Goose. I had
seen the flock of 9 Greater White-fronts before Christmas opposite the Kamp
Korey building but had not noticed that one was substantially larger and
darker. On a field trip a couple of weeks ago we missed it altogether (no
White-fronts there then). So today Nancy and I went looking for it amongst
the couple thousand Canadas and Cacklers that hang out across from the Kamp
Korey (used to be Carnation Experimental Farm) buildings. No luck (though
the 59 Trumpeter Swans were still visible off West Snoqualmie Valley Rd.
just n of 80th to the west).



We had noticed some Canadas in a field just south east of where Novelty Hill
Rd. drops down to meet West Snoqualmie Valley Rd., just south of 120th, so
we went back for a closer look at that flock. Sure enough, the nine Greater
White-fronts were with several hundred Canadas and Cacklers not far east of
the highway. We found a narrow pull-off on the west side of the road and
could get good close looks at the white-fronts, but in peril of our lives
due to the heavy traffic and no shoulder on the east side.



The Tule White-front stands out well, especially when they are up and about.
It appears to be a first winter bird as I could see no black belly barring,
though the white-front is well developed. At one point some medium-sized
Canadas (possibly Taverner's Cacklers) moved in on the white-fronts' space.
The Tule White-front took the initiative to drive off the intruders.



The taxonomy seems as bit up in the air, with Tule White-fronts treated
either as a fifth subspecies, Anser albifrons elgasi, or as a population of
a similar "Taiga" subspecies A. a. gambelli that nests to the east in the
McKenzie Basin (according to several websites responding to my googling), as
opposed to the "typical" tundra-nesting form, A. a. frontalis. Other than
being larger overall, heavier-necked and longer-billed, I think I could make
out a narrow yellowish eye-ring, said to be a useful distinction. The
population of this form is said to number perhaps 7000, mostly wintering in
central California and nesting near Anchorage.



It was too dark for attempting a digiscope shot. Are there any photos of
this bird yet? Gregg..??



Also spotted a flock of ca. 100 CEDAR WAXWINGS along SR 203 just south of
Duvall.



Gene.