[CT Birds] And another State first...most likely.

[Mark Szantyr]

On Friday, while sorting through the geese at Lyman Orchard Pond in 
Middlefield, I came across a goose that looked good for Cackling Goose but 
not quite right for hutchinsii, or Richardson's Cackling Goose.  I got a few 
photos and did some research and forwarded the photos to a few west coast 
goose pro's (real Anser - men).  They seemed to concur with my thoughts that 
the bird is more likely Branta hutchinsii taverneri, or Taverner's Goose.  I 
am quoting Angus Wilson's wonderful web site, Ocean Wanderers, "Taverner's 
are geese of coastal tundra, nesting just inland of cackling Canadas on the 
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and extending north to the Arctic Slope. Migrants 
gather at Izembek Lagoon near Cold Bay for a direct trans-Pacific flight. 
The literature suggests that Taverneri are longer-necked and longer-billed 
than parvipes or hutchinsii but this needs more careful study. Thought to be 
a rare migrant only to south and central states (e.g. Texas)."

If you are looking for this bird, look for a smallish canada goose with a 
stubby bill but not as "cute" as hutchinsii, showing more of an elongated 
sloping stubby bill.  It also shows remnants of a white collar separating 
the black neck from the gray breast.

mark

Mark S.Szantyr
80 Bicknell Road
Apt. 9
Ashford, CT 06278
USA

Birddog55 at Charter.net
860-487-9766