January 13th, 2007. Turner's Falls Canal, Franklin County, MA. Richardson's Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii hutchinsii. Brian Kane and I simultaneously saw this beauty as it swam behind a Snow Goose which we both happened to be watching at the same time. Again, another individual Cackler at this site, quite different in appearance to the bird on December 15th, 2006. It seems pretty remarkable that we're detecting so many of these at Turner's because I remember looking for them just as thoroughly last fall/winter and not finding any at all. Their appearance with large arrivals of Canada Geese seems to be more than coincidental. This evening, Brian and I counted a whopping 1500 Canada Geese on the canal alone. All in all, it was a solid evening of birding with 2 Snow Geese, a female Barrow’s Goldeneye, the now regular second cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull and first cycle Nelson’s Gull, plus a real surprise, two Green-winged Teal, and all of these on the canal. We didn't bird Barton Cove. Regarding the taxonomic position of Cackling Goose, I thought this excerpt from the journal 'British Birds', including the Barnalcle Goose reference, might be of interest: From a paper by Martin Collinson, British Birds (June 2006. Vol. 99) on “Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and West Palearctic lists; Canada Goose Branta canadensis Greater and Lesser Canada Geese should be treated as separate species (TSC3). Both morphology and genetics suggest that the ‘large-bodied’ and ‘small-bodied’ Canada geese form separate lineages. Genetically, the small-bodied birds appear to be closer Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis than they are to the large bodied taxa, and the large taxa are closer to the Hawaiian goose complex (of which only B. sandvicensis survives).” *Please note that the BOU use ‘Lesser’ Canada Goose instead of Cackling Goose to include all of the small-bodied group Branta hutchinsii (including subspecies hutchinsii, leaucopareia, minima and taverneri). Greater Canada Goose Branta canadensis includes canadensis, fulva, interior, maxima, moffitti, occidentalis and parvipes). Images taken using Canon Powershot A540 through Swarovski HD telescope.  Richardson's Cackling Goose (center). Small size not always apparent with much depending on the relative size and race of the surrounding Canada Geese. Three species of goose can be seen in this one image, a very nice situation to have at Turner's Falls!  Richardson's Cackling Goose (center). Small size readily apparent in this shot.This particular bird has an irregular but complete blackish line under the chin dividing the white cheeks.  Richardson's Cackling Goose (left of center). Shows a thin white half-collar at the base of the black neck-sock.  Richardson's Cackling Goose (left of center). In a crowd, small and pale with distinctly broad whitish fringes to greater coverts. Plus small bill, steep forehead and faintly sandy-toned breast.  Richardson's Cackling Goose (right).
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