Pink-footed Goose at the Martins Creek Environmental Preserve ~ March 7, 2026

Around 1:30, I got a message from Jennifer McBride with an attached photo asking if the bird in the photo was a Pink-footed Goose. I scrolled to the photo and realized that it was! I replied that it indeed was a Pink-footed Goose and asked where they were. They told me they were at the fenced-in basin by the Martins Creek PPL power plant. I sent out a text about it and headed up there. Bob & Jennifer McBride kept track of the bird, and it was still there among about 600 Canada Geese when I arrived. I got some fairly good photos of it through the fence.

Pink-footed Goose

When groups of Canada Geese started taking off, I trained on the Pink-footed with my camera. Eventually, when another group lifted off, the Pink-footed took off with them, allowing me to get these flight shots.

Pink-footed Goose

This was the 3rd documented record of Pink-footed for Northampton County. While searching through the geese, a Snow x Canada Goose hybrid was found. This bird was seemed like it had more Snow Geese genes than Canada genes since it was smaller, lighter, and paler overall.

A Snow x Canada Goose hybrid.

Another more often seen hybrid, one with the white head of a Snow Goose and the brown body of a Canada Goose, was also spotted in the group.

Another Snow x Canada Goose hybrid.

A Cackling Goose, noticeably smaller than the Canadas with its short neck and stubby bill, was also fairly easily to pick out.

Cackling Goose

Five female Canvasbacks were sleeping near the back of the basin. Their slightly larger size and more pale backs made them stick out a bit from the other female Redheads.

Five female Canvasbacks.

Other notables there included 300 'fly-by' Snow Geese, 2 Wood Ducks, 2 Northern Shovelers, 23 American Wigeon, an American Black Duck, 2 Northern Pintails, 20 Green-winged Teal, 28 Redheads, around 150 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Greater Scaup, 2 Lesser Scaup, 30 Buffleheads, 4 Common Mergansers, and a Ruddy Duck.

---