Even though it seems a bit slow as far as rarities there are a few good birds around to make birding exciting. Bishop's Pond in Meriden has a nice variety of waterfowl. There look's to be 8 Northern Pintail (6 Drakes), close to 50 American Wigeon, of course the Drake Eurasian Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 20+ Green-winged Teal, and the usual Mallards, Geese, and Swans. If your in the area looking for the Eurasian Wigeon you might want to head across town to Hanover Pond. Hooded Mergs are growing in numbers and there are a couple Imm Bald Eagles that have called the pond home over the past couple weeks. Geese have been growing in numbers in the Wallingford/Durham area. Surprisingly they seem to all be all Canada Geese except for the Cackling Geese that I have previously reported. Today I found both of them, one at Macenzie Reservoir and one in the Cheshire Industrial Park. I also wandered down to Newtown to see what Geese were around. At the Ram Pasture which is located at the intersection of Rte 25 and 302 we found a huge flock of Geese with 1 Greater White-fronted Goose and 13 hybrid GWF/Canada Geese. I have been having fun with the Geese this year and I was wondering if there were any good books out there on Geese. Any info would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!! Mark Barriger Cheshire, CT _________________________________________________________________ See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093175mrt/direct/01/

Seeing the note today about the geese in Newtown, I am increasingly troubled by the idea that these are White-fronted X Canada Geese but rather Greylag X Canada, a function of either captive breeding in an aviary or a product of the escaped Greylags that have been in NW Ct for some time now and some Canada Geese. I have seen these hybrids around NW Ct during most months of the year. My recollection is also that the White-fronted Goose that was in the field in Newtown looks better for the European albifrons, another candidate for escape status. Are there any recent pictures of this group? Mark Mark S. Szantyr 80 Bicknell Road #9 Ashford, Connecticut 06278 860-487-9766 Birddog55@charter.net

Hello friends and fellow birders, I've noticed the Barnacle Goose origin situation in the northeast has leaned towards the assumption that the majority of the sightings are probably wild birds. It would be nice to know where their coming from but Greenland seems quite likely. I agree with the latest ABA publications and so on for alleviating the escapee stigmatism. Now, I would like to talk about the history of the Barnacle Goose in Newtown. I recall that the hybrids were present in December 2005 as well as a Cackling Goose, the year of the Barnacle's first visit to the Newtown area?. In 2006, the Barnacle was present at Ram's Pasture with a immature Snow Goose in late October(Maine's bird came in early October this year) again with the hybrids. In 2007, the Barnacle was present at Ram's Pasture in fall. Can someone fill in these details? I remember the posting but no details i.e. what other species were present? I know the Committee would want the Newtown Barnacle to be foraging with collared Greenland Canada's or the Greenland subspecies of Greater White-fronted Geese to be accepted with origin uncertain. I concur with Mark about the Graylag x Canada goose identification. A friend in far eastern Maine just observed this hybrid combo near Machias, ME(he also found a Barnacle in July of 2004 in the area, which I know was regarded as an escapee due to time of year). Just some thoughts on geese. E.J. Raynor Quoting Mark Szantyr <birddog55@charter.net>: > Seeing the note today about the geese in Newtown, I am increasingly > troubled by the idea that these are White-fronted X Canada Geese but > rather Greylag X Canada, a function of either captive breeding in an > aviary or a product of the escaped Greylags that have been in NW Ct for > some time now and some Canada Geese. I have seen these hybrids around > NW Ct during most months of the year. My recollection is also that the > White-fronted Goose that was in the field in Newtown looks better for > the European albifrons, another candidate for escape status. Are there > any recent pictures of this group? > > Mark > Mark S. Szantyr > 80 Bicknell Road #9 > Ashford, Connecticut 06278 > 860-487-9766 > Birddog55@charter.net _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association > (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org