Sunday, November 16, 2003 Kingston Steam Plant, Roane Co., TN This morning the 6 Ross's Geese were still present in the upper "ponds", but around 10:30 am they left with a flock of 26 Snow Geese. The Snow Goose flock included 12 dark form birds. They flew in from the end opposite the smokestacks, circled over the ponds several times, calling the whole time. The Ross's Geese called as they flew up together to join them. The combined flock circled some more, then left in the direction of the smokestacks. Their calls were interesting. The Snows' reminded me of squeaks from rubbing a balloon. The Ross's was less musical, more like buzzers. The Ross's wingbeats seemed less deep, and their necks seemed proportionately shorter. Having seen only a single Ross's before this, and Snows only one at a time mixed in with Canda Geese, I was, to say the least, moved by this sight! Another birder witnessed the spectacle also, Roseanne Denton (spelling?) from Kentucky, who was in the area to see the Sage Thrasher. Don Holt Johnson City, TN ************************************************* BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST This is a regional birding list sponsored by the Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. It serves the Russell County Bird Club, Herndon TOS Chapter, Blue Ridge Birders Club, Butternut Nature Club, Buchanan County Bird Club, Bristol Bird Club, Clinch Valley Bird Club and Cumberland Nature Club. -------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds. To post to this mailing list, simply send an email to: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send an email to bristol-birds-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the one word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. -------------------------------------------------- Wallace Coffey, Moderator wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (423)764-****