Hi Derek, Check my post of 2/ 22, and those of Mike Yuan & Bob Washburn earlier that day.
Cheers, Bob On Sat, Mar 1, 2014 at 5:35 PM, Derek Rogers <drogers0...@gmail.com> wrote: > I enjoyed an excellent day of birding around Long Island's North Shore and > Riverhead area with Chase Cammarota today. The undoubted highlight was when > a second PINK-FOOTED GOOSE appeared out of the 4,000 plus Canada Geese that > were feeding in the large field at the northeast intersection of Reeve's > and Roanoke Avenue and Riverhead. > > When we first arrived around 11:45 AM we immediately noticed a densely > packed congregation of Canada Geese feeding at the above specified > location. There, we quickly located a Pink-footed Goose that obliged us > with excellent views as it fed, stretched and preened toward the south end > and in front of the entire flock. Once we got our fill, we moved on to try > and locate some Cackling Geese when we heard a strange, unfamiliar goose > call from the north section of the flock. I decided to focus my attention > in that general area and after a few minutes my scope got tripped up on a > second Pink-footed Goose! This was undoubtedly the unfamiliar calling goose > that we heard. > > Both Pink-footed Geese did not associate with one another and actively fed > with different flocks. Back and forth comparison of both geese yielded > subtle differences in overall tone and bill coloration. One of the > Pink-foots seemed slightly paler overall with just a tad less duskiness on > it's bill tip. Other birders on site were able to corroborate these subtle, > yet apparent, individual differences (which may not be reflected so well on > my distant digiscope shots). > > Chase and I left the giant goose flock at 1:30 and by that time both > Pink-footed Geese had wandered off and out of view. In fact, most of the > flock had dispersed and more loosely scattered about the entire area. One > of the Pink-foots (south most feeding bird) took flight and landed a bit > further to the northeast, but stayed in the same general area. The north > most feeding goose wandered off past a small berm, also toward the > northeast, and eventually got lost in the mess of Canadas. This was one of > the larger flocks of Canada Geese that I've seen and birds continued to > file in until we left the location. Other notables included 2 Cackling > Geese (1 picked out by Anthony Collerton and I was soon able to return the > favor) and a single Greater White-fronted Goose (I believe Bob Proenowych > called this one out but apologies if I'm in error). > > I guess the glaring question is just how long have these two Pink-footed > Geese been around? I heard speculation of possibly two birds about a week > ago. I also understand that there was a recent, large influx of geese in > the past day or two in speaking with active birders on both the North and > South Forks of Long Island. Perhaps a recent arrival? Some distant > digiscope shots of today's Pink-footed Geese can be seen on my Flickr link > below. I also included a map showing the area in which both Pink-foots > were seen. > > Best, > Derek Rogers > Sayville > http://www.flickr.com/photos/39025168@N07/ > -- > > NYSbirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > > -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
