Possible wild Barnacle Goose, 5/4, Berrien

[michael overway]

Well, I'll be the potential melonhead to throw this one in the ring: a Barnacle Goose has been spotted over the last several days in Berrien County and is apparently being discussed by the local birders as to its wild/non-wild status.

Dianne Overway (mom) and myself viewed the bird today at around 4:00.  Fortunately mom saw it poke its head up out of the grass and corn stalks at the back of the field - we were about to leave; so be patient it blended in remarkably well for a large black and white bird in a brown and green field. 

In Berrien Co. take US 12 west of US 31 or east of I-94 to Mt. Zion road, go south to Buffalo Rd., go east.  Or take Dayton Rd south of US 12 to Buffalo Rd and go west.  Between the two is a farm on the south side with a fenced in pond to the west - sounds sketchy already, eh?  To the west of this is a corn field.  The goose was hanging with many Canada's at the fence line at the back of the field.

According to others the goose has a leg band, and like I said, its status is apparently being looked into.

Additionally, the Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Dowitchers and Wilson's Phalaropes, along with an apparent daily changing list of shorebirds continued today at the flooded field in the SE corner of the intersection of Avery and US 12 in Berrien.  

Thanx, 
mike overway