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Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose? posted by John Marvin on September 25, 2009 at 09:17:33

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Donald Morse Jr. on September 25, 2009 at 10:19:07

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by John Marvin on September 25, 2009 at 11:51:37

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Jan House on October 15, 2009 at 21:19:37

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Ruhikant Meetei on October 16, 2009 at 12:35:27

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Donald Morse Jr. on October 16, 2009 at 13:09:55

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Ruhikant Meetei on October 16, 2009 at 14:32:41

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Allan Claybon on October 16, 2009 at 16:18:34

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Jan Watkins on October 17, 2009 at 13:10:14

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Jay Stenger on October 17, 2009 at 15:30:30

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Jan Watkins on October 17, 2009 at 21:38:24

Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose posted by Robert Foppe on October 22, 2009 at 19:49:32

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	Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose?         posted by John Marvin on September 25, 2009 at 09:17:33
	So about a week ago I was on a riverboat cruise leaving from newport with work. When we returned to the dock the sun had already set. As I was walking across the gangplank I noticed the usual collection of mallards on the rocks by the shore. However I then also noticed a pair of geese that were obviously not Canadian. They were in general dark brown in color. While I've been birding for a long time, I've always been weak on waterfowl, probably because the fun ones come when it is cold outside. The most similar species that I have seen before would probably be the Nene (Hawaiian Goose) although I obviously don't think a pair stowed away on a flight to CVG or anything like that. When I got back home to my birdbook the white-fronted goose seemed the most likely candidate, although I believe it is too early for them. Any thoughts on what I might have seen? -John Marvin
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Donald Morse Jr. on September 25, 2009 at 10:19:07
	Most definitely a domestic Greylag Goose. Here is a website from Cornell Lab of Ornithology that attempts to ease the confusion: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/domgeese.htm
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by John Marvin on September 25, 2009 at 11:51:37
	Yes, that was most certainly what they were. Complete with big blocky bodies and the "neck streaking" that reminded me of the Nene. Those escaped domestics always kill me. I probably spent and hour at Miami Whitewater trying to identify what I've now concluded was probably a domestic muscovy/mallard hybrid.
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Jan House on October 15, 2009 at 21:19:37
	The same thing happened to me last night! I was on one of the B&B riverboats, and some large geese swam over (perhaps they've been fed?). Not Canada Geese, and their calls were very hoarse, like a Canada goose with a terrible cold. The ones I saw were mostly gray, white marking at the base of an orangish bill, the tip of which was black, and several had black bills & no white (I thought perhaps immatures). Thanks for clearing up the mystery!
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Ruhikant Meetei on October 16, 2009 at 12:35:27
	Are these domestic Greylag Goose as well(copy and paste the link for the pictures? Please help me out, I was so excited to see them in Hueston Woods. http://ruhikant.smugmug.com/photos/682570487_zYGTc-O.jpg http://ruhikant.smugmug.com/photos/682570454_55bM7-O.jpg
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Donald Morse Jr. on October 16, 2009 at 13:09:55
	The top linked photo is. The bottom linked photo is also a domestic goose of some kind. One of the best ways to tell a domestic when you see one is if you can see the bottom/belly of the goose and there is what looks like "fat rolls" dragging the ground like in the first photo, you can be certain it is a domestic. The white goose also shows this too to a lesser extent. Google snow goose and/or greater-white fronted goose and look at the body shape. You will see the difference in body shapes. The white on the face of the greylag would be too much white for GWFG.
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Ruhikant Meetei on October 16, 2009 at 14:32:41
	Thanks Donald. They seem to be a happy couple though. http://ruhikant.smugmug.com/photos/682661848_KniEN-O.jpg
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Allan Claybon on October 16, 2009 at 16:18:34
	Here's the "happy couple" at Houston Woods in July of 2007. http://www.pbase.com/nsxbirder/image/82176462
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Jan Watkins on October 17, 2009 at 13:10:14
	I copied this website a couple of years ago to help me make a good comparison with any unusual sighting on our lake in Miami Woods and a Canada Goose. Now I can't remember which species it is! The sighting was in Miami Meadows Park near Milford. Check it out and hopefully someone will give me an answer so I can ID the link correctly in my Favorites. http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/stuff/goose_miami_meadows_12302007-1.jpg
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Jay Stenger on October 17, 2009 at 15:30:30
	Jan, the picture you refer to is of a Greater White-fronted Goose. I believe this particular bird was found and photographed on the 12/30/07 Cincinnati Christmas Bird Count by Bob Foppe and Bill Hull. The Mangoverde website is an outstanding bird photo oriented website maintained and operated by local birder Bill Hull.
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Jan Watkins on October 17, 2009 at 21:38:24
	Thanks for your reply, Jay. If I had taken the time to check my field guide, the orange legs would have given me the answer! Guess it's just too easy to "ask the experts" instead. That's what is so wonderful about this website...I do appreciate it.
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	Re: Could I really have seen a white-fronted goose         posted by Robert Foppe on October 22, 2009 at 19:49:32
	Bill and I both took pictures of this bird, this was Bill's though. Miami Meadows Park in Miami Twp Clermont County was the location.
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