Canada Geese
It was cold, windy, and overcast when I headed out this morning. My first stop was at the golf course pond, and soon after starting my hike, a small flock of Canada Geese flew in - my first bird species of 2024, and I wondered if that would be a harbinger for my birding in 2024 - just great; Canada Geese. Why couldn't it be a Great Blue Heron or some exotic bird species!
Canada Geese
Well, I continued my hike around the pond, and when I got up close to the #1 golf fairway, I looked back across the pond, saw more geese on the bank, and something white caught my eye. But it was behind a Canada Goose that had no interest in moving. Plastic bag? Or something else?
Canada Geese
I was curious enough to turn around, hike back along the trail, and then hike about 100 yards off the trail so I could get a better look. Sure enough, it was a juvenile Snow Goose, and my Old Trail avian species #167. I guess that the geese heard my foot steps, and they marched to the pond.
Snow Goose and Canada Geese
I took quite a few photos of this Snow Goose. I had seen thousands of them off the coast of Maryland in 2014, and a few in central Virginia over the years, including a couple of them here in Crozet at the King Family Vineyards in December 2016. Today's Snow Goose looked a bit small compared with the Canada Geese, but its large grin patch on its bill and its curved base of its bill distinguishes it from a Ross's Goose. Ross's Geese are about 23 " in length (bill tip to tail tip), Snow Geese are 28" inches in length, and Canada Geese can range from 23" to 45" in length.
Snow Goose and Canada Geese
Snow Goose and Canada Geese
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
The Snow Goose appears to have some growth over its right eye, but it doesn't appear to block all of its vision in that eye.
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Well, that's a good way to start off 2024!