Greater White-fronted Goose at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 19, 2017

While checking the beaches early this morning about 6:30 am, I was very surprised to find a Greater White-fronted Goose hanging with some Canada Geese. Watching it for awhile, it appeared to be lost or acting like is this the right place, seriously! Anyways it strolled along with the Canada Geese, where they went it went along. This bird is considered rare for this date at this location. Other birds to note, 2 Common Terns and what I think is a 2nd cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull. I wonder if the strong northeast winds had something to do goose and gull being here. It was a cold morning, cloudy with 41 degrees. I actually wore my winter coat, scarf, and winter hat and it was still chilly. I guess in Wisconsin you just can’t put those items away too early. Images were taken on May 19, 2017.

NOTE: A bird that should be in Alaska or far northern Canada breeding!

The look it gave, like where am I?

The drink…

The look it gave, like where am I?

Greater White-fronted Goose at Veterans Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on February 27, 2017

Birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning I came across the Greater White-fronted Goose that was reported yesterday in with a flock of Canada Geese. It would be nice to photograph this beautiful goose in the water but you have to take what you can get. It seemed very comfortable grazing with about 30 Canada Geese near the lagoon. It did a small amount of resting and preening while I watched. It was a clear sky this morning with temps around 30, the wind off the lake made it feel like January. Images were taken on February 27, 2017.

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Greater White-fronted Goose

Binomial name: Anser albifrons

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 28” long, 53” wing span

Weight: 4.8 lb

Range: We typically see more of these geese west of Lake Michigan as their migration route north is mainly more west of Wisconsin, Texas through the dakota’s to northern Canada and Alaska. Always a treat to see one on the lakefront in Milwaukee.

With a Canada Goose

With a Canada Goose

Grazing

Grazing

Grazing

Grazing

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Taking a break

Taking a break

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Grazing with some Canada Geese

Grazing with some Canada Geese

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The foot

The foot

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Greater White-fronted Goose on the Fox River in Waukesha Wisconsin on September 14, 2016

I was on my way home from birding the quiet lakefront this morning in Milwaukee when I got a text from Dan Wutkowski. The text was of a Greater White-fronted Goose that had just landed on the Fox River in downtown Waukesha. Thank you Dan! It had just landed in with a flock of Canada Geese that just arrived. When I arrived at the location in Waukesha it was in the middle of the river hanging with the Canada Geese. It remained there for about 20 minutes with the geese. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw some geese doing some wing splashing. After that I looked for the Greater White-fronted Goose and it was no longer present. This bird is considered rare for this date at this location. Short lived event but was a treat to see this bird! Images were taken on September 14, 2016

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Greater White-fronted Goose

Binomial name: Anser albifrons

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 28” long, 53” wing span

Weight: 4.8 lb

Greater White-fronted Goose hanging out in the middle of the river with Canada Geese

Greater White-fronted Goose hanging out in the middle of the river with Canada Geese, it usually stayed with the flock

Greater White-fronted Goose with a Canada Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose going down for some food

Greater White-fronted Goose with a Canada Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose with a Canada Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose stretching

Greater White-fronted Goose hanging with the flock Canada Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose hanging with the flock of Canada Geese

Greater White-fronted Goose, looks like a little pressure is being put on here by the Canada Geese

Greater White-fronted Goose, looks like a little pressure is being put on here by the Canada Geese

Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose hanging out

Greater White-fronted Goose hanging out