Monday, April 7, 2014

Name That Goose


April 7 Email:

Ric, I went to the bike path and Swanson this afternoon.  I saw all but the Great White Fronted and this strange goose.  Sibley's new second edition has it as a Domestic Graylag & Swan Goose hybrid. Anybody have any other ideas?

Phil Willemstein


Phil, "Farmus Domesticus" is always a good guess.  We'll see what others say. - Ric

4 comments:

Ken Sapkowski said...

Hi Phil! I was out there yesterday too and had it the same way. Medium brown stripe running from the back of the head down the neck. Huge bird with really thick legs. I did not see any shorebirds here or at the Wastewater. Ken Sapkowski

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Ken Sapkowski said...

The 3 swans I saw there were Trumpeter Swans. "V" shaped black bill and very large. Thick necks.
Hey Rick, you need a Muskegon County Trumpeter. Ken

Ric said...

Ken, when I was there Sunday the swans were quite far away from both the trail (north) and Swanson Road (west). Black bills eliminated Mutes, but they were too far away for me to see how the bills met the faces, so I just chalked them up as Tundras. Congrats on seeing three up close and personal!

Ken Sapkowski said...

It would not have been strange for Tundra's to be there one day and Trumpeters the next. On our way home Sunday we stopped by Freeman Rd and US-31 in Mason county and saw 150+ Tundra's. Folks have been seeing W.F Geese there, but no one else reported the Tundra's. They are moving. Ken