December is a slow birding month, particularly if you've spotted a lot of waterfowl early in the year. But I try to go out daily anyway because you never know what you'll see & if you don't go, what you might miss. Today I just birding around Westerly and there are lot of places to go.
Toward the end of my session I spotted a bunch of small birds floating amongst the Canada Geese in a pond next to the road. Traffic was light, thank goodness, but even so this spot is notoriously difficult to stop and take photographs. I looked through my bins and realized they were not gulls, took a few snaps and turned around to get some better shots. There were 5 Ross's Goose -- a bird that hasn't been reported in RI since 2018. In addition, there was a Snow Goose (which are very similar, just bigger in every way) and even a Greater White-Fronted Goose that all made it into the same photograph. I feel very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time to see this.
Unfortunately, while I was trying to get in touch with someone to confirm, they left and because of the trafficked location I was not watching them at the time. They have yet to be re-found, but I am hopeful. There are lots of birders out there like me, hoping for a bird they haven't seen yet to brighten a gray December day.



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