Pink-footed Goose

Don Clark photo

   April 2nd was our annual spring waterfowl trip, led by Don Clark and attended by novice and skilled birders alike. We started at Herrick's Cove in Rockingham, VT, went north along the CT River to Springfield, crossed the river into New Hampshire, following it south along route 12. We had seen a good number of species including Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Rough-legged Hawk and a Bald Eagle sitting on her nest.
   Next, Don decided to stop in Walpole at the Malnati Farm which always gets large numbers of geese and other interesting birds. Once there, Phil Morgan called our attention to what he thought was a juvenile greater white-fronted goose, but when Taj Schottland saw it, he said it looked like a pink-footed goose. For non birding-fanatics, a PFGO is an UNBELIEVABLE find!  (Excuse me for shouting)  We grabbed our scopes, cell phones, field guides and cameras to record and confirm what we were seeing.

Don Clark photo

   The pink-footed goose is aptly named for the bubble-gum pink legs. This European goose who ranges in Greenland and Iceland, occasionally turns up along the east coast of North America. In fact, this sighting is New Hampshire's first. And when one does show up, the birders come from all over to see it! It gets crazy!

JoAnne Russo photo

   In Vermont, where I live, there's been one report in 1999 on Grand Isle. So of course, as Vermonters, we hoped this goose would fly across the river into Vermont. Taj devised a plan to watch and see where it flew to roost that night. Most waterfowl will leave the fields at night, where they are easy prey, to find a sheltered water-spot. Directly across from Malnatis field is Allen Brothers Marsh in Westminster, VT, which has been getting hundreds of waterfowl roosting at night. So Don, Taj, Martha Adams and I waited, watched and sure enough, the geese began to fly across the river and into the marsh at dusk.We saw our pink-footed goose fly over our heads and into the marsh! A second (hopefully, if the review committee accepts it) record in Vermont!!

photo JoAnne Russo

   Some in our group had never been out on a birding trip before, they had experienced a bird that most seasoned birders live to see. The rarity of the pink-footed goose was appreciated by everyone! What a great trip, can't wait for the next.