Snow Geese

I went to a park that straddled two states to catch these. Two attempts after work did not yield results. The third attempt on a weekend was the charm. Warning: it was a dreary day, so the images are dark and not sharp as a result.

I saw them approach the park in a large group from a distance. I guesstimate the group was around a few hundred. I walked towards where they were. They slowly drifted towards my location. It helped few people were there.

When they arrived the swans were at the end of the water body closest to me. When the swans wanted to get to the other side, the snow geese gave them a wide path. I don’t know if that is respect or fear. What do you think?

This one was tagged around the neck.

Most were white morphs. According to All About Birds white morphs have black wingtips and a pink bill with a black grin patch.

One of these things is not like the others. I t appears to be a blue morph snow goose.

According to All about Birds blue morph snow geese have a white head and a dark body. The are the same size and shape as the white morph snow geese as well as the same pink bill with a black grin.

There was some loud communication between the snow geese.

I wish Google Translate had snow geese as an option. It would be interesting to know what they were saying amongst themselves.

They were here evidently a couple of weeks before I caught them. I have heard from multiple people this is unusual. There may have been a thousand or more at one point. At this location is is down to a couple hundred or less now. They do not usually come to this area in these numbers. I think our mild weather made this area and its ice free waters attractive as a long term stop.

Get out and enjoy nature! Even when the weather is not optimal. You may get to see something you have have before.

22 thoughts on “Snow Geese”

    1. I stuck to the areas you were allowed to stand. They had certain areas closed off to protect the wildlife. I was lucky on Sunday they swam closer to where I was. Lack of people definitely helped. Dogs were allowed there on leash. Many go there to walk there dogs. It was worth the effort. If I waited for a sunny day they may move on by then. They came closer to where I was on their terms.

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  4. What beautiful birds. I especially liked your comment that one of these birds was not the same as the others! Perhaps better not to know what they are saying!
    Gwen.

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      2. It’s not common for here in large numbers. Usually a couple stragglers passing through. Again it has to be no snow, no ice covered bodies of water , and warmer weather. I hear they are more common in southern NJ and Pennsylvania. I will try to remember where in Jersey people told me. I won’t bet on them being at the location I was at in a future year. Less and less here as the days go on.

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    1. Yes, owls would be a hoot to have 😂. We had one male that would hide in the trees on a trail and would start hooting when someone came near. Scared the bejesus out of hikers. They would not have even known he was there. The nest wasn’t even close to where he was. I always wondered if owls had a sense of humor.

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  10. Sascha, Foresyth in Southern NJ, I hear , has them. I have not been there so I have not seen them for myself. I was told by multiple people. It is off the Garden State Parkway. You would be better off seeing what is more drivable to you. Research online. There are places certain birds winter at yearly. That is my understanding of the Snow Geese. The place I am going to had never had a large group before. Maybe 1-2 stragglers seen. I doubt they will come here again especially if the winter is colder next go around. It got cold the past couple of days and I saw groups of birds flying south. Some birds like the short eared owl leave soon for the north. I wouldn’t want you driving in a spot where they may leave soon or they will not return. NYC people come up to some of the places near me an get upset when they don’t spot certain birds. It is hit and miss. You can go several days over winter and only see them up close one day to get okay photos. Other areas you may get closer.

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