ML128641441

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

I was passing through Lake Wales today so I stopped to check out the drake ABDU that has been recently reported at this location. Upon my initial scan of the pond I found three very dark Black Duck-type birds on the far side of the pond. I was able to walk closer and study them in good light with excellent scope views. There were two drakes with yellow bills and a hen with an olive bill. I carefully viewed all three birds and took several digiscoped photos. They each appeared to me to be ABDU. I could see no evidence of being hybrid ABDUxMALL. I could see no green at all in the heads, no curled tail feathers, no white in the tails or wing panels, dark purple speculums, and all dark body feathers with only very slight buffy edges that were subtle and unlike the borders of MALL feathers. I know others have recently reported only one AMBU here and 1-2 possible hybrids. However, I can see no reason why any of these three birds cannot be called ABDU. It's possible that they could be hybrid backcrosses or carry at least some MALL genes but based on the phenotypic traits that I observed they all looked like ABDU to me. If I am overlooking something obvious in my photos that suggests otherwise, by all means please let me know! Two short video clips: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73942903@N03/11988834014/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/73942903@N03/11988786493/

Technical information

Model

iPhone 4S

Lens

iPhone 4S back camera 4.28mm f/2.4

ISO

50

Focal length

4.3 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/2.4

Shutter speed

1/789 sec

Dimensions

3264 pixels x 2448 pixels

Original file size

923.25 KB