While birding in the City of Ithaca today, I found a Cackling Goose and what I think is a Lesser Canada Goose (B. c. parvipes) in the Cayuga Lake Inlet. The parvipes was a very small, dark goose that I initially mistook for a second Cackling, until I looked closer and saw that its head and bill shape made it a small Canada. It was larger than the nearby Cackling (I couldn't get them in the same photo), but much smaller than surrounding Canadas. It stood out as the darkest goose present, with a darker breast and more dark flecking on the sides. I embedded some photos of both in my checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9406491 I would appreciate any comments for or against the ID of this bird. The geese were on the mowed grass embankments on the west side of the Inlet. About 100 Canadas were roosting just upstream of the small dam and fish gate, another 90+ Canada, plus the Cackling and Lesser were downstream of the dam and around the bend.
I also birded the Larch Meadows Trail at Buttermilk State Park and Southwest Natural Area (aka Negundo Woods). I didn't see anything too unusual. Highlights include a good mixed flock at the very back of Larch Meadows, along the Inlet, with many Titmice and a Carolina Wren. In Negundo Woods I had a pair of Hooded Mergansers and a Great Blue Heron along the Inlet. Larch Meadows checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9406195 Negundo Woods checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9406259 Finally, on my way back home a flock of 74 Tundra Swans flew overhead, calling, as I passed the Ithaca Bus Station. Checklist with photo: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9406273 Good birding, Nick -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
