August 11th, Great Meadows, Concord, MA.
| Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii
| We
were fortunate enough to be in Lincoln today and called in at Great
Meadows NWR for just over an hour at around noon. Susannah located
the tiny goose after about half an hour and we (with our friend
Jonathan Brown) watched it for about 15 minutes in excellent light. The
bird exhibited an excellent selection of characteristics associated
with Richardson’s Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii hutchinsii. These charactersitics were later confirmed in an email from David Sibley to Marj Rines that she forwarded to Massbird.
The bird was a little distant which is reflected in the images, but it
was nice watching the geese come into drink from the drainage ditch
in the heat of the day.
Quite a few shorebirds were out on the mud, most rather distant, but we
enjoyed close views of a Least Sandpiper . A couple
of Glossy Ibis were here as well.
In the evening, our first Common Nighthawk of the fall season passed over the Norwottuck Bike Trail at South Maple Street.
| | Taken using Canon Powershot A-95 through Swarovski HD telescope. |
|
