To add to Christopher's post and pic, the Tule White-fr Goose is worth
paying attention to. They are a likely future split and represent a fairly
small and unique population. Unlike other Greater White-fr Geese, they nest
in forested areas in interior Alaska in the Denali/Anchorage area, not on
the tundra.
They are larger, much more of a dark chocolate brown instead of the
brown-gray of the others, and have a stronger bill. I have more pics from
Colusa NWR in the Sacramento Valley (one of the easier places to see them),
with some regular GWFG on the same checklist for comparison:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S62896446
Even at Colusa, they mostly stay separate from the others, usually in a
small group of 5-15 individuals, in ponds with tall tules. The other GWFG,
all 5,000 of them, are often in large groups in flooded fields.
good birding,
On Wed, Jan 4, 2023 at 5:21 PM Christopher Clark <
cjbirdmanclark at gmail.com>
wrote:
>
Good evening,
>
>
Not really much to add to what others have already reported, but the
>
WHOOPER SWAN was continuing just outside of Enumclaw today between 11am and
>
noon. Today the swan flock was actually fairly close, allowing great views
>
from the road. There are several spots to pull over, and a good amount of
>
room to stand away from the road to safely view these beautiful birds. This
>
seems like a low traffic road anyway, at least during the week. Also seen
>
was the Tule Great White-fronted Goose, a Peregrine Falcon that flew low
>
over us, giving great photo opportunities, and a couple American Kestrels
>
on the drive to/from the swan spot. Ebird checklist with photos:
>
>
https://ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S125432678
>
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--
Steve Hampton
Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)