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October 19th, 2005. Richmond, VT.
| (probable) Richardson's Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii.
| Denny Abbott and I watched this rather small stocky goose fly into a corn stubble field with a flock of Canada Geese
at Richmond, VT. In flight it leapt out as being much smaller than the
Canadas with a proportionately shorter neck. However, once on the
ground the smaller size wasn’t quite so apparent but it did look
stocky, short necked, short-legged and rather pale which allowed it to be picked out
from the other Canadas quite easily. In some respects it was more
reminiscent of a Barnacle Goose in size and shape. Above all, the head and bill shape was distinctly
different from Canada Goose. It showed a rather square head shape, with
a steep forehead and a short, rather neat looking bill. Also notable
was the rather low slung carriage in the corn stubble, presumably due
to its shorter legs.
It's also worth mentioning that we encountered a huge variation in the size and
color of many Canada Geese at this spot in Richmond. However, none of them showed
this combination of features which do seem to better fit Richardson's Cackling Goose.
| | Taken using Canon Powershot A-95 through Swarovski telescope. | NB. In each shot below the bird in question is thought to be a Richardson's Cackling Goose.
However, I'm quite ready to be corrected on this one. Even so, in some
respects I thought that the head and bill shape of this bird were a
better match for Richardson's Cackling Goose than this very small, well watched bird at Great Meadows, MA in August.
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(probable) Richardson's Cackling Goose - second from left.
Small and dumpy with a thick set neck and a distinctve bill shape.
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(probable) Richardson's Cackling Goose - right.
Rather pale, especially on the flanks with broad pale fringes to the upperparts.
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(probable) Richardson's Cackling Goose - front right.
Good comparison of head, neck and bill shapes with the Canada Goose at the rear.
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(probable) Richardson's Cackling Goose - the small billed individual at the rear.
Most of the body is hidden by the much larger, rather dark Canada Goose in the center.
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(probable) Richardson's Cackling Goose - head -up, extreme right.
Even when alert, still looks thick set and dumpy. The bill looks very small in this shot.
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(probable) Richardson's Cackling Goose.
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