[EBB Sightings] Fremont geese

January 3 (near entrance road leading to boat area): 1 very small and very 
dark-chested RIDGWAY'S CACKLING GOOSE.

January 6: (south of tennis courts near intersection of Stevenson and 
Gallaudet): A sort of mini-group of five unidentified geese which stuck 
pretty much together as they wandered around foraging in association with 
our usual Moffitt's.  The members of the group consisted of two larger and 
three smaller.  The larger appeared definitely smaller than small 
(presumably female) Moffitt's and appeared to have bills that are different 
in shape and relative size.  Also I believe both larger and smaller 
unidentified are considerably larger than Aleutian but no Aleutian was 
available for comparison.  The bird in the photo of December 28 had a nice 
black gular stripe.  I got a look at the throats of a couple of the 
unidentified birds and neither had the dark stripe. The larger were much 
more alert and concerned with me, while the smaller concentrated on feeding. 
As to larger versus smaller within the five -- to me the head and bill look 
similar, I think the smaller had relatively shorter necks.  Unfortunately I 
did not get a photo of the two forms in the Group of Five with Moffitt's for 
direct comparison.

I would be grateful for opinions on what these geese might be.
Photos are on PBase --  http://www.pbase.com/johncant/waterfowl

January 7: The immature SNOW GOOSE seen the previous day by Stephanie Floyd 
was present, plus a cackling which I think was RIDGWAY'S but the head shape 
was not quite as distinctive as some I have seen.  Also, some distance from 
the Moffitt's mob were 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE.

John Cant
Fremont