Brant, Napatree pond

Most of the birding action is now along the shore, so my feet are taking me in that direction. One of my favorite winter species is a small member of the goose family known as a Brant, a gregarious bird that can, at a distance, be easily confused with a Canada, our most overcommon member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. While you can find Canadas everywhere in the winter, Brant, which are easily distinguished from their cousins by the lack of white on the chin and by their distinctive white wedge on the neck, are harder to locate... unless, of course, you know where to look. I typically spot them at Napatree Point, one of my favorite coastal walking spots, and, sure enough, the Brant didn't disappoint. The geese took to the air not long after I located them and flew in a tight formation that, I'm told, is called a "plump." A well-choreographed and acrobatic formation, but a plump nevertheless.