Birds Make Snow Angels Too

[yourlibrarian]

Early in December we were surprised by a flash of white out on the lake. At first we thought our Ghost Duck might be back, especially because it seemed smaller than the Canada Geese out there.



However in looking it up online I believe it is a Ross's Goose which may have gotten lost or separated from others. No sight of it the following day so it might just be a stopover, although years ago we had a grey goose that stuck around for a season.



Our balcony only had a rim of snow near the edge, but mourning doves, always entertaining, nonetheless took the time in their wanderings to walk and then sit deliberately in the snow.



It then spread its wings and left an impression in the snow as you can see at the top of the photo below.

Comments

[shirebound]

Thank you for sharing the delightful snow impressions. We got about 3" last night, and the whole backyard was filled with rabbit tracks this morning.

[yourlibrarian]

We could definitely pick apart the mourning doves from the finch tracks!

[full_metal_ox]

Interestingly, the wing print is facing the opposite direction from the footprints; wonder how that happened.

[yourlibrarian]

It is puzzling but What I think happened is this. I remember seeing it sitting in the snow and that's the bare patch at the end of the footprints. I think it extended a wing then, as it's to the left of the sit spot. It may have touched down the other wing as it moved to fly off.

[yarnandglue]

Aww, those little foot prints! So cute!

[yourlibrarian]

It's so funny to see the circling ones.

[full_metal_ox]

And to hear their flustered twittering off in flight—which is the whistling of their inner flight feathers rather than any vocal utterance.

[signoftea]

Great pictures! The impressions of the wings in the snow are really cute.

[yourlibrarian]

We've seen them do the wing spread before but this was the first time they left an impression 🙂

[chestnut_pod]

Seconding the Ross's Goose ID! I always think of them as chibi-fied Snow Geese; it's amazing to me how cute nature can make some animals :p

[yourlibrarian]

Ah, good to know I guessed right!

[ioplokon]

Imagine trying to ID from afar whether you were seeing Snow Goose + Canada Goose or Ross's Goose + Cackling Goose!!

[chestnut_pod]

With hybrids!

[ioplokon]

oof yeah, wild hybrids are hard. Domestic ones are easier bc they always look like they are wearing a diaper... T-T

[sparowe]

Oh!! That's so precious! <3

[yourlibrarian]

It was a fun sight!

[zenigotchas]

Angels making snow angels

[yourlibrarian]

They're built for it alright

[adafrog]

:)

[yourlibrarian]

:) :)

[vriddy]

The snow impressions are adorable!! 🤩

[yourlibrarian]

Glad you enjoyed them 😊

[cmcmck]

Such great pics!

[yourlibrarian]

Thanks!

[ioplokon]

Lucky! I really want to see a Ross's or Snow Goose, but just keep getting domestic-canada goose hybrids T-T

[yourlibrarian]

We generally see only Canada geese here which is why an unusual vistor stood out 🪿

[ioplokon]

Yeah; their beaks are also so cool!

From further away, the way to tell Ross's and Snow geese from domestic is the black wing tips. I think basically all 100% white ducks/geese are domestic?

[puddleshark]

What a sighting! That Ross's Goose is a beauty. We only seem to have Canada and Brent Geese here.

And I love those wingprints in the snow. Thank you!

[yourlibrarian]

It was striking to see! Glad you enjoyed it.

[linky]

These are delightful photos!

[yourlibrarian]

Aw, glad you like them!

[dhampyresa]

The wing impression is so cool!

[yourlibrarian]

It was a neat discovery alright!