ML107680881

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Continuing bird easily seen about 10 m out into the marsh from the "blue dumpster" near the Lincoln/Jefferson "elbow." A distinctive and easily identified duck (only a couple of extralimital Dendrocygna species are at all similar), told by its rich deep buff coloration, dark chestnut and buff dorsal barring, white flank plumes, thin dark line up the back of the neck, fairly long blue-gray bill. I was most interested in the bird's behavior -- it would dive repeatedly after about 5-10 seconds on the surface, disappearing underwater to feed on (presumably) aquatic vegetation and generating a lot of roiling surface water int he process. I guess all the Fulvous Whistling-Ducks I've seen previously have just been loafing or flying, and I had no idea they were such habitual divers. (I've certainly watched a lot of foraging Black-bellied and West Indian Whistling-Ducks and not noticed them diving). A few photos taken (making me about the hundredth person to photograph this bird)

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P900

ISO

400

Focal length

214 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/200 sec

Dimensions

4608 pixels x 3456 pixels

Original file size

3.55 MB