Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: takkatakka on February 06, 2016, 06:17:04 PM

Title: Ross's Goose?
Post by: takkatakka on February 06, 2016, 06:17:04 PM

I saw three small white geese among a flock of Canadian Geese.  We thought it was a Snow Goose, but when we looked closer we think it is a Ross's Goose.

It has a small blue-gray patch at the base of it's short bill and it is smaller than we expected for a Snow Goose.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Title: Re: Ross's Goose?
Post by: Reuven_M on February 06, 2016, 07:11:31 PM

Certainly look like Ross's to me! Whereabouts?

Title: Re: Ross's Goose?
Post by: takkatakka on February 06, 2016, 07:54:13 PM

Fantastic!

There are storm ponds at the south east corner of Ninth Line and HWY 7 (borders up to the 407).  Really nice spot.

Title: Re: Ross's Goose?
Post by: Brown-headed Birder on February 06, 2016, 08:05:32 PM

Can you provide a few more details on location.  Is this 9th line not too far from Reesor Road, and if so my map doesn't show 9th going all the way up to Highway 7 but I wouldn't put it past it to be wrong.  Would like to go Sunday so help greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: Ross's Goose?
Post by: takkatakka on February 06, 2016, 08:31:25 PM

Here is a map that should help.  I circled where we saw it.  There is some parking at the end of St. Arthurs Ct.

NOTE:  69 is Markham Road.

Good luck.

Title: Re: Ross's Goose?
Post by: takkatakka on February 06, 2016, 09:18:30 PM

Correction on my last post. On the map 69 is Ninth Line.

Title: Re: Ross's Goose?
Post by: Rotarran on February 07, 2016, 12:24:17 AM

I've been to these ponds before they're at the back of a subdivision type of housing.  The ponds cover a fairly large area and it's difficult to get a perfect view of them at times due to the terrain and shrubs.

Title: Re: Ross's Goose?
Post by: thouc on February 07, 2016, 11:25:29 AM

Interesting with the influx of Snow and Ross's Geese to the lower Great Lakes region, in particular Ohio has seen an unprecedented amount. When you look at the abundance graph in e-Bird (http://ebird.org/ebird/canada/GuideMe?cmd=quickPick&speciesCode=&bMonth=01&bYear=1900&eMonth=12&eYear=2016&getLocations=states&states=US-OH&parentState=US-OH&reportType=species&speciesCodes=rosgoo&speciesCodes=snogoo&continue.x=29&continue.y=11&continue=Continue), there's a huge spike for this past week even when you look at all years combined. I guess it's because of the mild and snow free conditions.

Title: Re: Ross's Goose?
Post by: Dinusaur on February 07, 2016, 05:59:45 PM

I went there this morning - no luck. I was startled by the booming sound of ice cracking in the pond - that was something new. I then went to Reesor pond and on the way I saw three birds that appear to be reported Ross's goose on the north east corner of Hwy 7 and Don Coussens Parkway among a large flocks of Canada geese. By the way, it was very nice meeting you Takkatakka - keep up the good work.