Wild Goose Chase at Green Lane Reservoir - Montgomery County

Barnacle Goose 2/24/2011 at Green Lane Reservoir

         Dave Eberly and I were planning to go birding at the airport when he saw an email about a Barnacle Goose at Green Lane Reservoir in Montgomery County. So we quickly changed our itinerary and headed north. Upon our arrival there was a huge flock of Canada Geese in the playing field off of Walt Rd. We started scanning the flock and Dave quickly got on a goose that was not a Canada. Expecting to see the Barnacle Goose, I was surprised that he had found a Greater White-fronted Goose laying among the Canada Geese. That was a nice unexpected find. When we went back to scanning the flock, I managed to get a quick glimpse of the Barnacle Goose laying in the grass, but the other geese kept walking in front of our target bird. Finally we were able to get good looks at the Barnacle Goose (photo above & below).

        So after watching the geese for a while we headed to the reservoir itself and managed to relocate the Eurasian Wigeon that I had seen a few days previous. Also present of the lake were 1000+ Snow Geese, Hooded & Common Merganser, Ring-necked Ducks, Mallards, Black Ducks, American Wigeons, Gadwall and Pintails.