ML21440421

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Five scaup were swimming together in the west irrigation lake. I was able to get some photos of the lone male Greater Scaup. I thought the female that was close to the male might be a Greater but I think the black nail on the bill is too small and the head is not as wide as a Greater would be. The smooth rounded head on the possible female is evident in two of the three photos, but shows a notch in one photo. Both great and lesser can show a notch spot on the back of the the head, but it is more evident in the lesser. It all depends on the activities of the ducks if it is visible on the Greater. The Greater also has a non-breeding lesser scaup male and two lesser females (see photos under Lesser Scaup below). The wide black nail on bill of the greater is evident and in comparison with a lesser. The smooth rounded head, thicker neck and high point on the front of the head characteristic of Greater is apparent also. No mottling in the white sides of the alternate male Greater as would be expected in most lessers.

Technical information

Model

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

ISO

1600

Focal length

247 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.5

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

2244 pixels x 1395 pixels

Original file size

908.26 KB