ML132904491
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Paul spotted the wintering adult male loafing on the flats just above the bridge for W Mission Bay Drive. Given that we were running a little late, I looked at this bird through my scope and then quickly walked down to the shore in an attempt to get a photo or two. Given that the bird was sleeping most of the time, I took a few quick shots and then began back toward the vehicle. It was only at this point that the wigeon awoke and I returned to get more photos of the bird with its head out. In my hurry to do so I ended up flushing the birds, which flew across the channel. This was a medium-sized duck that appeared similar in size and structure to the many American Wigeon with which it was associated, and my views were sufficiently superficial that I failed to notice any of the finer details of its structure and even its plumage. I nevertheless noted quite clearly that the head was a deep rufous-red color with the forehead and forecrown appearing to be pale cream as opposed to deep buff in the somewhat harsh light conditions. I noted no greenish on the superciliary or auricular regions or really any other contrast on the head. The breast was pinkish, but I did not study it carefully enough to notice if it was speckled darker, and even though I noted that the flanks and upperparts were medium-gray, I did not notice if they were finely vermiculated. That the pinkish breast and gray flanks contrasted conspicuously with a white belly was clearly evident given that the bird was standing on land. Also evident was a white patch on the rear flanks, black undertail-coverts, and a large white panel on the wing that was clearly visible even when the bird was on land. I cannot now recall if I noted the pale blue bill in the filed, but it is shown clearly in my photographs, which should also show additional details that I either failed to notice in the field or which I had forgotten by the time I wrote this description a few days later.
Technical information
- Model
- Canon EOS 7D
- Lens
- EF400mm f/5.6L USM
- ISO
- 500
- Focal length
- 400 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/8.0
- Shutter speed
- 1/640 sec
- Dimensions
- 1450 pixels x 1050 pixels
- Original file size
- 1.52 MB