Earlier today (11 November 2018) around 10:00, I made a quick stop at the
Alcoa Duck Pond in Blount County after dropping off my spouse at the
airport. Other than some American Coots and domestic ducks, the only birds
on the water were a group of six Canada-type geese. Within the group, there
was significant variation in body size, neck length, and bill shape and
size, including two that had short necks and small bills. This group moved
out of the water after a while, and the smallest bird had a silver leg
band. It's been so long since I've practiced on geese to know types, but
there were likely some intermediate between CANG and CACG birds in the
group, along with one to two probable Cackling Geese, including the one
with the banded leg. This small group of geese was also keeping itself
apart from the resident Giant Canada Geese, who were across from the school
foraging on grass. Had they been juxtaposed, the differences might have
been more discernible to me. They might be worth a look for those with a
more discerning eye.
Good birding,
Angela Hoffman
*Angela M. Hoffman*
Knoxville, TN
ahoffman1979@xxxxxxxxx
