[va-bird] 3/29 Blue M. Snow Goose, 3/22 Pectoral SP: Dulles Wetlands Mit Proj

Hello birders, 
        

        Yesterday morning scoping the Dulles Wetlands in central Loudoun Co 
from the road,
I spotted what I believe to be a molting juvenile Blue Morph Snow Goose.  I had
good looks at the bird, which was slightly smaller than the Canadas nearby.  It
had the body and bill shape of Snow Goose.  The bill was pronounced dark gray. 
The face was all white, with a bit of a dark patch around the eye.  The neck was
mostly white, with some mottling of dark gray reaching up the back of the neck. 
The body was fairly dark gray, and the vent and undertail coverts were white.  
It
looked just like the adult Blue Morph in Sibley except for the dark bill 
(juvenile) and
the dark patch at the eye (which could be remnants of a juvenile's all-dark 
head).
 I would appreciate any feedback on this bird. 

        This morning when I again stopped in to see if the goose was still 
there (not found),
I heard my first Brown Thrasher and Chipping Sparrow of the spring! 

        Rich Rieger?s report of Pectoral Sandpiper reminded me of my neglect to 
post sightings
last week at the Dulles Wetlands. With special permission to enter on March 22,
Joe Coleman and I observed 4 Pectoral Sandpipers, along with some 40-50 Wilson?s
Snipe scattered throughout the wetlands. There was a lone Blue-Winged Teal among
100-odd Green-Winged, a few Gadwall, several Am. Wigeon, Am. Black Duck, and 
Mallards,
and 7 Hooded Mergansers. The Bald Eagle was attending the nest. 

        Mary Ann Good

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