[EBB Sightings] Martinez: Cackling Geese and Barrow's Goldeneye

On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 09:54:27 -0800 (PST), David Diller

>Between 7:30 - 8:30 am today birded the M. Reg Shoreline. 
>  I scoped a flock of 30 or so Goldeneyes from the extreme western end of the park and easily distinguished at least 5 male Barrow's Goldeneye mixed with Common males and many females of both species. No hybrids discerned.
>   
>  I failed to refind the G White fronted Geese. Of course the domesticated Graylag and Swan type geese along with the Whities and various mutt ducks and mallards were at the duck pond where I also saw 3 Canvasback and a Ruddy.
>   
>  Among the Canada Geese of various sizes, there were again the 2 distinctively diminutive Cackling Geese which seem to always stay together and keep their distance from their larger relatives(at the Arch Bridge) This flock seems to travel between Alhambra Creek and the ball fields to east.
>   
>  I saw only one of the Bc Night-Herons in the Monterey Pines, but did not check the area thouroghly.
>  David

Robbie Fischer and I checked this area Friday morning, November 18th.  

There were two flocks of Goldeneye off the west end of the park; one flock
of about six Common Goldeneyes and a more distant flock of about 30 birds
that appeared to be all or nearly all Barrow's.

Three immature Greater White-fronted Geese were just north of the duck pond
along with two Cackling Geese.  I took some photos and may post them
eventually.  The White-fronts were quite pale and matched the overall
coloration of the controversial "mystery goose" specimen which was
discussed at the Central Valley Birding Symposium in Stockton this weekend.

We also saw one Black-crowned Night-Heron in the Monterey Pines.



-- 
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044  jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu 
Birding Classes start Feb 7 in SF  http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee  http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/