Ross' Goose and others

[Rowe, Richard A, 'Dick']

All,

I went out looking for ducks and geese this morning.  I headed to Willow Lake to look for the Greater White-fronted Geese that were present earlier in the week.  I did not see them although there was one goose sleeping with its head tucked in that clearly wasn't a Canada Goose, but I am not confident it was a GWFG.  To my surprise there were 2 Ross' Geese mixed in with the Canada Geese.  These would be the 5^th or 6^th record for the County.  Also at Willow Lake, besides Canada Geese, there were a few Gadwalls and Mallards.

I went to McCormick's Farm, next.  There were no birds on the front pond.  The back pond was partially frozen wtih a few Canada Geese and Mallards.  But, I did find 3 Wilson's Snipe.  In all of my visits to McF I've never seen a snipe there.  They were in the grass on the far side of the pond in the back portion.  There were a number of birds past the back pond: Cardinals, lots of Blue Jays, a Sapsucker, Downy WP, Red-bellied WP, Titmice, WT Sparrows, Song Sparrows, but no Winter Wren.

I also visited Old Farm Rd pond - there were about 30 Hooded Mergansers, a few Canada Geese, 6 Ring-necked Ducks and lots of sparrows in the cattails.

I've posted a few photos: Barn Owl and Snow Goose photos from the Christmas Bird Count; Snow, Greater White-fronted and Ross' Goose from Willow Lake; Wilson's Snipe from McCormicks; and Ring-necked Duck and Swamp Sparrow from Old Farm Rd pond.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vmibiology/

Dick