Six geese were noted late December 6 at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge viewing
area in Meigs County at Birchwood. Since the geese were in the middle of the
slough in low light, I was able to see the “smile patch” on the lower mandible
of only some of them. I expect all were Snow Geese. One was a juvenile and one
was a “blue morph.” Ten Great Egrets were observed across the slough in trees.
All week several species of ducks were also seen in the slough, but low light
prevented my confident identification of only a few species today. Gadwalls,
Ring-necked Ducks, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Pintails, and Northern Shovelers were
the only species I could be sure of today. Hundreds of Sandhill Cranes were in
view, one of which had the most extensive orange staining I have seen. Kevin
Tayes had made me aware of that crane yesterday. According to the National
Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America, “Preening with
muddy bills, cranes may stain feathers of upper back, lower neck, and breast
with ferrous solution in mud.”
Charles Murray
Birchwood Tennessee
