[mou] Ross/Snow conundrum, Wabasha County

[Dedrick Benz]

At about 5PM Sun evening I watched a white goose fly in (relatively) close 
to the road at Weaver Bottoms along Hwy 61.  My general impressions were of 
a rounded head, small pink bill lacking a grinning patch (though I was far 
from the bird), and no rusty coloration in the head.  However the bird 
seemed substantially larger than any of the species of ducks (100's of 
dabblers present).  The bird was actively feeding most of the time so head 
and neck characteristics were a little hard to determine.  I'd appreciate 
any impressions anyone else gets of this bird.  Is it possibly a Ross X 
Lesser Snow Hybrid (see Sibley p. 79)?

Dedrick Benz
Winona, MN