In my continuing quest to understand and recognize the 'new' subspecies of small Canada Goose, I picked this individual out of a large flock of Geese on 12-2-04.
My initial discovery was made through binoculars looking sharply downhill at the flock feeding on the lawn. The only pics I could get were of the Bird on the water. Just in case the fact is not obvious, we are looking at the bird in the center to the left. Veterans Memorial Park at Gillie Lake. Camillus, NY. December-2004. Swaro ST-80 HD scope and Nikon CP-4500 with mock DCA-type Adapter. 20X zoom.
Overall, the Bird was much paler and grayer than the larger Canada Geese. The small head with triangular, stubby bill, squarish/stubby neck, and the sharp angle of the forehead led me to the ID of Cackling Goose. Veterans Memorial Park at Gillie Lake. Camillus, NY. December-2004. Swaro ST-80 HD scope and Nikon CP-4500 with mock DCA-type Adapter. 20X zoom.
Zooming in, you see the size difference of our pale Cackling Goose in the foreground. Veterans Memorial Park at Gillie Lake. Camillus, NY. December-2004. Swaro ST-80 HD scope and Nikon CP-4500 with mock DCA-type Adapter. ISO 200. 40X zoom.
The Richardson's form of the Cackling Goose is the race we would expect here in central NY. Compare these shots with the odd Cackling Goose photographed in September by clicking the link below the next shot. Veterans Memorial Park at Gillie Lake. Camillus, NY. December-2004. Swaro ST-80 HD scope and Nikon CP-4500 with mock DCA-type Adapter. ISO 200. 40X zoom.
A composite shot to show the breast. None of these shots are great, but note the Bird does not show any white where the neck sock meets the breast and the pale nature of the breast. Camillus, NY. November-2004. Swaro ST-80 HD scope and Nikon CP-4500 with mock DCA-type Adapter. ISO 200.