White chin patch, though small, is solid for a young, blue morph Snow, and so are the elongated, innermost secondaries, although there could well be other genes mixed up there, as well, but Snow for sure.
Barry Barry Kent MacKay Bird Artist, Illustrator Studio: (905)-472-9731 http://www.barrykentmackay.ca [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: ONTBIRDS [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Iain Fleming Sent: December-06-14 3:16 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Ontbirds] Hybrid Goose Challenge, Harlequin and Snowy - Etobicoke Waterfront I birded from Col. Sam Smith Park to Sunnyside Beach this morning, stopping at several parks along the way and found/re-found some interesting birds: Col. Sam Smith -Late Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Snowy Owl on the marina docks, freshly killed Horned Grebe on rocks at Whimbrel Point (likely breakfast for the former. Sand Beach Rd. Parkette -Re-found the adult male Harlequin amongst a mixed group of Buffleheads, Mallards and Am. Wigeons. Also present was a female White-winged Scoter. Humber Bay Park East -Interesting hybrid goose, Brant-sized: http://iaindmfleming.zenfolio.com/p37929371/h270439fe#h32905658 <http://iaindmfleming.zenfolio.com/p37929371/h270439fe#h32905658> -My initial thought was Brant x Canada Hybrid, but I think there may be some Snow goose mixed in given the shape of the bill, the pink on the tip of the bill, the white patches on the face/base of the bill and the faded/washed out colouring of the entire bird. Incidentally, leg colour looked to be dark/black. I’d welcome any thoughts via personal email. Humber River Pedestrian Bridge -The previously reported King Eider gave some great looks as it fed actively off the south-east point, below the bridge. Directions: These parks are listed above from west to east starting in Etobicoke with Col. Sam Smith at the foot of Kipling and Lakeshore Blvd. West and ending roughly 10kms to the east with Sunnyside Beach at Windermere Rd. and Lakeshore Blvd. West in Toronto. Good Birding, Iain _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
