GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Anser albifrons
Family Anatidae

Bird # 276 - December 2010

This was an amazing twitch for us! We went to Candaba with Christian P to look for the rare migrant Greater White- Fronted Goose that was reported to the WBCP by Alex Loinaz. The early morning weather was very cool and pleasant. Everything looked so lush, and there were a lot of birds around. We could not keep count of all the White Breasted Waterhens, Common Moorhens, Philippine Ducks, Garganeys, Northern Shovelers, Purple Herons, Egrets, and Black Crowned Night Herons. And, even before we could reach the area of the goose, Tonji and I had a lifer! A Javan Pond Heron in breeding plumage.

After about an hour, we decided to ignore the other birds and look for the goose. We headed to the area where Alex L. said the geese are found. We were taking pictures of the ducks, when Tonji pointed out a small flying flock and said, "That's a different bird!" The small flock flew right on top of us and the three of us clicked away. I got the shock of my life when I looked at my camera and saw that a) my settings were correct! and b) it was a flock of Greater White Fronted Geese!!

There were 13 geese in all and they fly in a very orderly V formation. After we realized that, it was easier for us to spot them flying. They would take off and land in the water about 800 meters in front of us. Once they were in the water,  it very difficult to spot them among the ducks even with a scope.

This goose is known in Europe as White Fronted Goose . In North America it is also referred to as "specklebelly" because of the distinctive and identifying black bars on the belly. Theys are 65-78 cm in length and have a 130-165 cm wingspan. They have bright orange legs and mouse-coloured upper wing-coverts. This is the first time this bird was reported in the Philippines.