As usual the Fairmont CBC was held on the first Saturday of the count period (today). I am sure next year's will be the first available Saturday, so those who are looking for a count where you can filter through waterfowl can put "Fairmont CBC" on your calendar for Dec 15, 2007. I had to make the pitch. That way we can quit drawing straws to see who has to count the geese (just kidding).
Anyhow, Ed B-K and I studied at least three strange waterfowl on the Fairmont CBC today. All are assumed to be abnormal plumages of common species. 1) We had a large Canada Goose (Likely Giant) which was proportionately similar to the nearby and similarly sized Canada Geese. If anything this bird may have appeared slightly larger necked. The plumage was reminiscent of a Canada Goose, except the head was mostly white. The bird also appeared to be molting feathers in the neck, as there was some white flecking in the dark neck. The kicker is that the bird had orange (or pink) legs. Brian Smith had described a similar goose on the Fairmont count perhaps three years ago. I took a few distant and obscured slides of this bird today if anyone is interested. Even a series of poor photos would describe the bird better than I could from memory. 2) There was a similar Canada Goose studied by Ed B-K which had the same head pattern, but dark legs. 3) Lastly we had an odd duck (literally) assumed to be a Mallard. In anything but perfect light this bird looked pure black, except for a white breast patch. There also appeared to be two "rings" on only the lower mandible (about where the rings on a Ringneck Duck are). In perfect light there was some contrast visible on the bird (ie the flanks were lighter than the folded wing). With the possible exception of the tail and rump area, the bird appeared proportionately similar to the nearby Mallards. The bird sounded like a Mallard. Anyhow, about a dozen years ago we had some Mallards which had a fair amount of extra white in various areas, but this dark Mallard is new to me. We also seem to be seeing an increasing number of white headed Canada Geese. I am assuming all are examples of partial albinism/melanism. New species on the Fairmont CBC will include; Cackling Goose (although we had this species prior to the split, including photographed individuals and a neck collared Richardson's(a three character collar)), and a neck collared Trumpeter Swan. Brad Bolduan Windom
