This will need confirmation by birders more experienced than I. I observed, at the west end of Lake Byllesby, a blue phase goose. The size and shape of the bill suggested Ross's to me right away (there were Canada Geese by it for size comparisons and it was much smaller than the Canada Geese. What stumped me was the fact that the white of the head stopped at the chin and didn't extend further down the neck as with the blue phase Snow Goose, for which I had a picture. The goose also sported a dark crown stripe that ran down the back of the neck. I had the sun behind me, and had great views with the scope. Back home as I looked through my various guides, the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 4th Ed. had a picture of exactly what I saw, the blue morph adult Ross's Goose. Please, check it out. I've seen blue phase and white phase Snow Geese, and just one good study of a Ross's Goose earlier this year. I will yield to the determination of those who have had more extended experience with snow and ross's geese than I.
Good birding! Linda Sparling Hennepin County
