Caerlaverock WWT
Barnacle Goose 11,000
Cackling Canada Goose 1
Pale-bellied Brent Goose 1
Pink-footed Goose 100
Greylag Goose 30
Canada Goose 10
Curlew 200
The Cackler was a stunning bird. It was generally dark brown, with a dark breast, but in the good sunlight, you could occasionally see the purple sheen on its breast. It had no white collar, and the black neck blended into the breast, with no obvious line between the two, as there is in the paler Canadas. It had a gorgeously rounded head and a cute little bill, very like Ross's Goose. It was obviously smaller than the Barnacles.
The one problem with the bird is that it had a distinct chin stripe. All of the literature I have read says that Cacklers don't have chin stripes. Aluetian Cackler is said to have a chin stripe, but I would have expected it to be paler and have a white collar, so I'm not convinced it's Aluetian either. It was suggested that it might be a dark Richardsons, but I can't believe that. To call it a Richardson's just because it has a chin stripe is to ignore the fact that in all other respects it is a stunning, classic Cackler. I'd be interested in any opinions on this bird.
The photo shows a very small part of the flock. The Cackler was with this flock when it took off, but it looks like I missed it, because so far I haven't been able to find it in the picture.
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