Earlier this month, when the ponds were almost completely frozen over at my local marsh, I watched as some Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) zoomed across the ice at a very low altitude. It looked like they were racing each other. In the background you can see some potential spectators, but they didn’t seem to want to get caught up in a wild goose chase.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Was this part of a take off or landing? It doesn’t seem like there is much to gain in stopping on a sheet of ice, although I know they can manage it.
I am not sure, Sue, if this was takeoff or landing. I suspect that it was part of landing and they were searching for the open water (there was still a small amount of water that had not frozen over).
Great action shot Mike. With their stretched necks they almost seem nervous about clearing the trees at the end of their ‘runway’. If I don’t clear these pines down there tell Mrs Goose it was all in a good cause! 😀
Maybe they were just having some fun. I like to think that birds and animals do that at times.
A fitting title.