Re: [cobirds] Unusual Hybrid Goose at Monte Vista NWR

Thanks to all who checked out this unusual goose at MVNWR. Here is what I have gathered from your responses. A number of folks thought Canada X Gr Wh fr Goose. I was thinking that way as well as was a birder friend who also saw it. But today, I also got a post from a friend in Oklahoma who found a website showing Canada X Greylag Goose Hybrids. I am now leaning that way but will need to look  at the photos closely. Anyway, thank you all for taking a look at this bird..... 

On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 9:26 AM, Casey Setash <csetash@vt.edu> wrote:

Hi John,

I believe this is the same bird I saw nesting on Monte Vista last summer (see attached photos). I tried many times to get a good photo of the bird swimming around the first pond on the auto tour route with some goslings, but I was never able to get an appreciable photo. The one I've attached shows it swimming with a couple of other adults and what I assumed were its older goslings. Who would have thought it would be able to successfully mate! I was never able to determine whether it was the male or female from behavior, but I'm glad to see it's back again this year!

Casey Setash

On Sun, Feb 19, 2017 at 8:13 AM, <mvjohnski@gmail.com> wrote:

There are about 6 to 8,000 birds at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, with more to come as waters start to flow. These birds consist of Sandhill Cranes, Cackling, Canada, Gr Wh Fronted and Ross' Geese. A good variety of ducks are also present. (Rio Grande County). Best viewing places are the usual turnouts on Hwy 15 south of Monte Vista.

Every year we seem to get an anomaly and this year is no different. I found and photographed an unusual hybrid goose that is similar to a Canada Goose but has obvious differences. A white frontal area, large white cheek patch, broad white belly band, and orange legs are some of the notable differences. This bird has me baffled.

You can view the bird on my webpage at

http://johnrawinski.zenfolio.com/

Look at the first 3 images in "Sandhill Cranes and Other Birds at Monte Vista NWR"

I would be interested to hear what folks think this bird might be. Good birding all.

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, Colorado

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Casey Setash

Vice President, VT Student

Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Wildlife Science

Virginia Tech Class of 2014

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