Sunday was a Newport day. A Snowy Owl or two had been reported there. I figured if I went early I might have a sighting.
A stakeout at First Beach yielded nothing at first light.
I cruised past Second & Third beach – tons of Ducks.
Back to First.
A ride around Easton Pond – tons of Ducks.
Back to First – Nada.
Took my regular drive around Newport – tons of Ducks.
Last stop - try to find the Cackling Goose that had been spotted at Hammersmith Farm the last few days.
Hammersmith Farm was the Summer White House in the JFK years. They had their wedding reception there. Jackie’s Step-father owned the place. I knew none of this before the Goose was spotted.
The Cackling Goose is like a mini-Canada Goose. It is about one third the size, has a stubbier bill and longer wing vs. body ratio, so its wing feathers extend over the tail. This is more detail that I usually have when finding a bird.
I’ve thought I had this bird before, but it turned out to be just a small-ish Canada Goose. I posted it on What’s This Bird and someone was kind enough to provide a lot of detail on how to tell its Cackling vs. Canada.
I was armed with info.
Five Cackling Geese (who for some reason I always want to call Crackling) had been reported. There two flocks of @30 & 60. Surely, I can find them.
I spent a long time looking at those Geese.
I finally settled on two that might be the ones.
I took a ton of photos.
I went home and examined them.
I looked at eBird.
I looked at Sibleys.
Yes, I decided I had two of them.
I posted on Facebook.
I waited for someone to tell me I was wrong.
Someone told me I was right.
Zen birding lesson of the day: You are a birder.
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