Incidental birding gets me to 975

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     I had seen distant flocks of white Geese and have had closer looks at Snow Geese. Seperating Ross’s from Snow requires a closer and careful look. Typically there would be a handful of Ross’s in a flock of hundred Geese I believe. During the day they feed in fields and don’t have a reliable spot. Roosting  happens in large ponds where we would have better luck. Ross’s Goose is a passage migrant in Austin and when it is seen, which is very rarely, it would stay for just one afternoon. I would have other plans which would prevent me from going to the spot quickly.

     Me and my friends went on a road-trip to NM and south CO. The first planned stop was White Sands National Monument. We were unfortunate to be the ones to visit it on the first day of the closure due to government shutdown! Our next planned stop for the night was Albuquerque. With nothing else to do, I convinced my friends to drive. A short detour would get us to Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge just before sunset. I was thinking more in terms of photography and not bird-watching or targeting. After some pics of sunset, I saw a huge flock of white geese flying around further away. We headed that way to the next set of ponds. About twenty geese were right on the shores. I had a look at each of them to id them all as Snow Geese. Further ahead I saw hundreds of them. I was sure at least one would be Ross's. We quickly got into the car and drove. I had to search and I clicked photos of ones which I felt could be a Ross's based on bill size. Then I saw a couple of small Geese to be certain that they are Ross's Geese for bird 975! It greatly helped that I had Snow Geese next to them for comparison. Next time I don't need them side by side to separate them!

     I thank my friends for being patient while I got this bird, and my friend Ganesh for driving to the Geese quickly! Even non-birders would enjoy the Sandhill Cranes and Geese that winter here by the thousands. Interesting skies during sunrise and sunset would add to good photo opportunities too.



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