Birders! Erwin Batalla, Alex Simmons and Paul Mackenzie just dropped by to inform me of an unusual goose they found at Horne's Ferry, Wolfe Island. They initially suspected Pink-footed Goose due to the small size, dark head and pale body. They had just been observing the Greater White-fronted Geese on 5th Line and this bird struck them as quite different. I went out with them and quickly located the bird which had now stepped up onto an ice flow. It was clear that the bird had orange feet and legs. Although a long way out, good scope views were afforded with the sun at our backs and the striking bill pattern of thick dark base, narrow orange band towards tip and black tip was clearly seen. The giss of the bird and pattern of the bill was very reminiscent of the Pink-footed Goose in Moose Creek last year. Of course immature Greater White-fronted Goose was considered and apart from the bill pattern, obvious pale fringes to the tertials/coverts were clearly seen and the underparts were pale and unmarked - not showing even a hint of attaining any of the dark streaks associated with Greater White-fronted Goose. The bird was not banded.
The bird was initially seen swimming in the open channel north of the ferry dock (at about 12:30) but later moved up onto the ice. The ice was drifting left when we left (at 13:30). There is also a Greater White-fronted Goose at this location - assumed to be a different bird to the 8 previously reported. I tried to take some digiscope photos. Will upload if they come out but the bird was too far for regular photos. Directions: Wolfe Island is reached by a free ferry from downtown Kingston (at the east end of Barrack Street). The ferry is currently docking at Dawson Point (on Wolfe island), from where you will travel south to Hwy 96, then west to the village of Marysville. After the shops turn left onto Hwy 95 and follow it all the way to the end where you will reach a custom checkpoint (closed) and the ferry dock. Walk out onto the dock and view north. All land surrounding the dock is private. Mark. Mark D. Read 337 Button Bay Road, Wolfe Island, Kingston, Ontario K0H 2Y0 Canada Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246 Home: +1 (613) 385-1651 Email: [email protected] Blog: "Confessions of a Global Birder" http://markdread.blogspot.com <http://markdread.blogspot.com/> Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdread/ eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species <http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-repor ting-sensitive-species> _______________________________________________ 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
