MA - Cackling Goose - 10/24

My first Cackling Goose of the fall season. At 09:30hrs less than one hundred Canada Geese were present on the power canal so I decided to call it morning and began driving home on Montague City Road. As I drove north, I noticed a small flock of Canadas flying in from the east and pulled over for one last check. The flock had more or less passed me dropping down towards the power canal, but through the windscreen I felt sure that there was a smaller, more compact bird within the flock the jizz of which reminded me more of a Barnacle Goose than a Canada. I headed back to the bike path for another try and quickly found a beautiful, pristine Cackling Goose in with the Canadas. By the time I left (at about 11:05hrs) the Canada Goose flock had built up to about 450 birds with small groups birds continually arriving, most likely from feeding spots in Gill, Greenfield and Deerfield.

 Cackling Goose - (right), leading this small group of Canada Geese, Turner's Falls power canal,

Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Digiscoped using Canon Powershot G10.

Cackling Goose - (right), with Canada Geese, Turner's Falls power canal,

Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Digiscoped using Canon Powershot G10.

Cackling Goose - right, between two Canada Geese offering a nice size comparison

as well as comparison of relative bill size and shape. Turner's Falls power canal,

Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Digiscoped using Canon Powershot G10.

Canada Geese - small flocks dropping in throughout the morning, Turner's Falls

power canal, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

 

Hermit Thrush - rather gray looking bird with contrasting rufous tail and rufous fringes to the flight feathers. Very skulking and difficult to see well. Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.