{"id":55403,"date":"2018-12-25T06:22:12","date_gmt":"2018-12-25T13:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=55403"},"modified":"2024-02-13T18:11:10","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T01:11:10","slug":"christmas-goose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/12\/25\/christmas-goose\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Goose"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ChristmasChristmas Goose on a pond – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I was able to spend a little time on Christmas Eve at the local pond not long before the sun set and the usual birds were there in nice light. Some Common Goldeneyes, a single Double-crested Cormorant, American Coots, Pied-billed Grebes, lots of wild and domestic mallards, a few Redheads, and geese.<\/p>\n

There were large Canada Geese and small Cackling Geese and geese that were somewhere in between both their sizes. Perhaps the middle sized geese were Lesser Canada Geese, I just know the more I looked at my long distance photos of the geese the more confused I became with those in between sized geese.<\/p>\n

Only one goose came in close enough for me to take a portrait of it and it was one of those in between sized geese. If pushed I would have to say this is a Lesser Canada Goose but who is going to push me for an ID on Christmas Day? \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Even David Sibley has a difficult time positively identifying Lesser Canada Geese: Lesser Canada Goose in the northeastern US<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

I’m happy that I was able to photograph birds on Christmas Eve in decent light and that somehow to me this is more than “just” a goose, it is a Christmas Goose and who am I to look a gift goose in the bill?<\/p>\n

Merry Christmas…<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Canada Geese photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’m happy that I was able to photograph birds on Christmas Eve in decent light and that somehow to me this is more than “just” a goose, it is a Christmas Goose and who am I to look a gift goose in the bill?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":121044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,527,28,709,26],"tags":[4004,32,528,4343,6301,6484,713,4775,6913,1984,4046,8018,3996,373],"class_list":["post-55403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-cackling-geese","category-canada-geese","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-branta-canadensis","tag-cackling-goose","tag-canada-goose","tag-christmas","tag-close","tag-geese","tag-goose","tag-lesser-canada-goose","tag-pond","tag-portrait","tag-urban","tag-water","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/goose-christmas-eve-mia-mcpherson-7055.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-epB","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43384,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/12\/07\/adult-snow-goose-on-willow-pond\/","url_meta":{"origin":55403,"position":0},"title":"Adult Snow Goose on Willow Pond","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"There were several hundred Canada Geese on the pond and because I have seen reports of Cackling and Snow Geese in the area I scanned the pond with my lens and spotted a lone Snow Goose.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lone Snow Goose on Willow Pond, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-willow-pond-mia-mcpherson-8832.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-willow-pond-mia-mcpherson-8832.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-willow-pond-mia-mcpherson-8832.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-willow-pond-mia-mcpherson-8832.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2245,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/04\/27\/cackling-goose\/","url_meta":{"origin":55403,"position":1},"title":"Cackling Goose","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 27, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week I spotted a bird that isn't usually here in Utah this late in migration, a Cackling Goose.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cackling Goose on the water with a Canada Goose in the background, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cackling-goose-regular-goose-utah-mia-mcpherson-0367.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cackling-goose-regular-goose-utah-mia-mcpherson-0367.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cackling-goose-regular-goose-utah-mia-mcpherson-0367.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cackling-goose-regular-goose-utah-mia-mcpherson-0367.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":119620,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/01\/12\/canada-goose-on-the-wing\/","url_meta":{"origin":55403,"position":2},"title":"Canada Goose On The Wing","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"There was a break in the gray clouds yesterday before noon, so I drove down to my local pond. While I was there, I photographed this Canada Goose on the wing.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Calling Canada Goose in flight, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/canada-goose-flight-pond-mia-mcpherson-1322.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/canada-goose-flight-pond-mia-mcpherson-1322.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/canada-goose-flight-pond-mia-mcpherson-1322.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/canada-goose-flight-pond-mia-mcpherson-1322.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43948,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/12\/15\/canada-geese-portraits\/","url_meta":{"origin":55403,"position":3},"title":"Canada Geese Portraits","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 15, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Three days ago when the sun broke through the clouds in the afternoon I went to the pond and was able to take several Canada Geese portraits with the blue water of the pond in the background.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Canada Goose close up, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-goose-portrait-mia-mcpherson-2588.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-goose-portrait-mia-mcpherson-2588.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-goose-portrait-mia-mcpherson-2588.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-goose-portrait-mia-mcpherson-2588.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4677,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/03\/25\/canada-goose-on-glovers-pond\/","url_meta":{"origin":55403,"position":4},"title":"Canada Goose on Glover’s Pond","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 25, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) are common in my area and I often overlook taking images of them because of that. I really shouldn't though because they are beautiful birds.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Canada Goose paddling by, Farmington Bay WMA, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-goose-mia-mcpherson-0094.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-goose-mia-mcpherson-0094.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-goose-mia-mcpherson-0094.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-goose-mia-mcpherson-0094.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":118542,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/11\/25\/canada-geese-in-falling-snow\/","url_meta":{"origin":55403,"position":5},"title":"Canada Geese In Falling Snow","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 25, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday I desperately needed a bird break so I went down to my local pond. While I was there I photographed Canada Geese and American Coots in falling snow.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Canada Geese and American Coots in falling snow, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/canada-geese-snow-fall-mia-mcpherson-8595.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/canada-geese-snow-fall-mia-mcpherson-8595.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/canada-geese-snow-fall-mia-mcpherson-8595.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/canada-geese-snow-fall-mia-mcpherson-8595.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55403\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}