Species. |
Date and Time of Observation. January 30, 2006 at approx. 1:50PM |
Location: County and Town. Oxbow Park on the Clinch River in St. Paul, Russell/Wise Counties, VA adjacent to the waste treatment facility and behind an industrial park. Traveling west on US 58 (Alt) take a left at the second traffic light in St. Paul and the park entrance is approx. 100 yards on your right. The water is approx. fifty feet from the parking lot and waterfowl, including the Ross’ Goose, are often seen grazing in the grass in the picnic area as you pull in and park. |
Length of Time Observed. Approx. 45 minutes on each occasion. |
Habitat. Oxbow Park along the Clinch River in St. Paul is a small lake (approx. 6 acres) that is well maintained, with picnic areas, restroom facilities, and a gravel track that surrounds the lake. The lake is formed by a small dam at the eastern end and fed by a stream at the western end. The south end of the lake is in Wise Co., while the north end (where parking and picnic areas are located) is in Russell Co. The north side of the lake is predominantly flat with open fields, a few trees, and easy access to the bank of the lake. The west end where the creek enters is marshy and embraced by a variety of deciduous trees. The southern side of the lake is at the base of a hill and completely wooded. US 58 (Alt), a heavily traveled major road, and the town of St. Paul itself are less than a half-mile distant from the park. Elevation of the area is approximately 1,492 feet above sea level. |
Optical Equipment. Easily visible with the naked eye and used a Canon EOS 300D Digital SLR with a 100-400IS-USM lens. |
Viewing Conditions. On 30 January conditions were very overcast; 03 February they were partly cloudy; on 07 February conditions were partly sunny. Viewing conditions were very good at close proximity on all three occasions. On all three occasions a solitary Ross’ Goose was initially seen, upon entering the parking lot, grazing in the open picnic area in the company of several Canada Geese, Domestic Geese, wild, domestic, and hybrid Mallards, Muscovy Ducks, and Coots. On February 3rd and 7th an older local couple were feeding bread to the waterfowl from their parked car and the Ross’ Goose was actively participating at the fringe of the flock. I was able to approach within five feet of the Ross’ Goose on several occasions, but normally remained between 20 and 30 feet of it in order to photograph it with my long camera lens. |
Description. Upon arriving at Oxbow Park in St. Paul and exiting my car on January 30th, I immediately noticed to my surprise and amazement a solitary small bright white bird that was noticeably smaller and different in body structure than the other waterfowl in its company. I had just been to the lake at Clear Creek Golf Club in Washington Co. an hour before where I observed a confirmed Ross’ Goose in the company of Greater White-Fronted Geese for the second time in a few weeks. The bird in St. Paul appeared identical to the bird I had just seen at the lake at the Clear Creek Golf Club in its small size and field markings; being bright white in color, black wingtips, dark pink legs and feet, steep forehead, stubby dark pink triangular bill with a dark grayish base and no black “lips” on the mandible grin patch.
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Field Marks.
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The Ross’ Goose in St. Paul, Wise/Russell counties, VA is solitary. There is interaction with other waterfowl there, but in general it appears to be only tolerated and is for the most part ostracized. I was able to observe the goose feeding, milling around, swimming, and flying at very close range – between 5 and 50 feet at all times. It is interesting to note that the Ross’ Goose I observed at the abandoned airstrip in Richlands in Tazewell Co. received the same treatment from the Canada Geese it was in the company of. In contrast, the Ross’ Goose I observed on two occasions at the lake at Clear Creek Golf Club in Washington Co. was in the company of between four and six Greater White-Fronted Geese that were clearly very protective of it, and although they at times were in proximity of Canada and Domestic Graylag Geese there, they did not intermingle with them, preferring to remain apart. |
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Voice. I did not hear a vocalization. |
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Previous experience with this or similar species. Ross’ Goose sighted in the company of Greater White-Fronted Geese at the lake at Clear Creek Golf Club in Washington Co., VA on January 30th and February 3rd, 2006; and Ross’ Goose sighted in the company of Canada Geese at the abandoned airstrip in Richlands, Tazewell Co., VA on February 6th, 2006.Have also seen snow geese fairly close-up in Saltville, VA in December 2005. |
What other field marks helped you eliminate other similar species? Key field marks included the overall size of the goose in comparison to other birds it was with including Canada Geese, wild Mallards, and a Domestic Duck. Also, the steepness of its forehead, dark grayish area at the base of its bill, the stubbiness and triangular shape of its bill, and especially that it did not have the black “lips” grin patch found on a snow goose’s mandible. |
Other observers, if any. On January 30th and February 3rd, 2006 aside from a few local people running and walking on the track around the lake, and older men chatting at the picnic areas, I was the only birder present. On January 30th immediately upon returning home I contacted Dave Worley of the Bristol Bird Club and shared my discovery with him. Based on my observations Dave agreed that it was probably a Ross’ Goose. I then contacted Roger Mayhorn, President of the Buchanan County Bird Club and shared my discovery with him, including e-mailed photos. Upon review of the close-up photographs, Roger too concurred that it was a Ross’ Goose. Roger Mayhorn accompanied me to again observe and photograph the Ross’ Goose 0n February 7th, 2006 and after considerable study and comparison of its photographs, extensive research, and discussion concurs with its identification as a Ross’ Goose. |
Did other observers agree on species identifications? In not, state specifically why. There was a discussion with Wallace Coffey of the Bristol Bird Club about the possibility that the goose could be a Ross’ x Lesser Snow Goose hybrid. |
Resources consulted for identification. United States Geological Survey; http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i1700id.html |
Attach photographs, field notes, and sketches, if any, and provide details of equipment used. Photographs: Web link to 25 digital photos of the Ross’ Goose in St. Paul, along with additional photographs of those seen at Clear Creek Golf Club and Richlands: http://www.pbase.com/rkretz/ross_goose. These photographs include a variety of close-ups of the Ross’ Goose in St. Paul such as its head, swimming, walking, grazing, holding its wings up, flying, and size comparison shots with Canada Geese and a Domestic Duck. Field Notes: None |
SIGNATURE: Richard E. Kretz |
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DATE: February 14, 2006 |
The first thing about the bird that came to my immediate attention on January 30th was its bright white color and small size, about that of a wild Mallard, in comparison to the other birds surrounding it, that its build was more delicate/proportional, and its posture was quite different. Second, I noticed that its wing tips were black that crossed slightly across its body when down. Next I noticed that it had dark pink legs and feet. I then viewed the head and bill of the bird through my camera lens, extended to 400, from a distance of approx. 20 feet in order to obtain a full frame close-up view. This observation afforded a clear close-up view that the forehead was rather steep, the bill was triangular and stubby, generally dark pink in color with a dark bluish-gray base, and that although there is a grin patch it clearly lacked the black “lips” of a Snow Goose on its mandible.
Description of
Behavior.