ML376180831

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

A first winter or adult female.

Observation details

An adult initially found feeding with a male Shoveler in the middle of the flash. Then moved to the east bay, slept for a while and then moved into the middle of the flash again and often diving for food with Shoveler. Took flight from there and flew onto the north side of Stilt Island where it remained to early afternoon. Smaller than Shoveler and larger than Common Teal. On first sighting, pale blue wing coverts were showing whilst it was swimming and this combined with pale loral spot, dark line through the eye and pale supercilium, plus dark spatulate bill suggested this species. Head pattern was much stronger in sunlight (sometimes reminscent of Garganey) but then very subdued when more overcast. Garganey ruled out however due to the pale blue rather than grey forewing (not bright enough for a male) often visible when it dived for food and in flight the forewing bordered behind by a strong while line and then black secondaries with only a thin white trailing edge. Cinnamon Teal considered due to rather heavy bill, but ruled out on basis of dark line through the eye, lack of any warm tones in the overall plumage, and very distinctive flank patterning. The bill often looked heavy, however on some views seemed much more typical and even Garganey-like. Hybrid Shoveler genes seemed non existant however other than in the potential bill shape, and there was no sign of any Shoverer patterning in the underwing (leading edge was dark) or upperwing where the trailing edge was suitably limited and the white bar anterior to the speculum was also typically curved rather than angled. The belly was also not as pale as on Shoveler and the legs (only upper section visible) dark yellow rather than orange. Head: Brown with face appearing paler in brighter like. Crown slightly darker. Looked noticeably dark headed when asleep constrasting with paler breast. Pale supercilium with an obvious whitish spot on the lores at the base of the bill. A dark line ran from above this spot and through the eye, where it broke a white eye ring. Bill blackish and spatulate shaped, in some views rather heavy and in others reminiscent of a Garganey. Body: Breast pale brown spotted darker merging with slightly darker earthier brown flanks with very obvious horizontally V shaped pale edges to the feathers creating a distinctive effect. I have read this patterning described as ‘crazy paving’ which is very apt. The patterning was different enough for the bird to be picked out amonst a resting flock of Shoveler and Common Teal when asleep. The belly was pale earthy brown and unspotted. The mantle and scapulars were darker brown than flanks and again with pale fringes. Wings: A pale blue forewing was often visible when the wings were partly open as the bird either dabbled or dived for food. In flight the upper forewing appeared a little greyer (but still with a blue tone) bordered at the rear by a white bar, thinner at the body but curving along its front line to be larger at the base of the primaries. This bar showed no dark markings or breaks suggesting an adult. The secondaries were blackish with some green feathers showing and with a thin white trailing edge. The greater primary coverts were dark brown and the primaries similarly coloured but with large paler centres. The underwing coverts were white with dark grey secondaries and pimaries and also a dark grey leading edge. The tail was dark brown with some buff on the outer feathers. The legs were not very visible but when stood in shallower water the upper sections appeared dark yellow. Subsequent photos seen showed the feet to be orangey-yellow.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P950

ISO

200

Focal length

357 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.5

Shutter speed

1/125 sec

Dimensions

2440 pixels x 1648 pixels

Original file size

3.68 MB