ML395424881

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

**Continuing 2nd state record/first since 1981. Found yesterday by Ron Martin and Corey Ellingson upriver along the west shore of the tailrace. I dipped yesterday (it was seen at dark just after I left) so I came back today with high hopes and was rewarded by the bird gods for my perseverance. Really good, prolonged scope views in nice even light for the duration of this checklist. The bird spent most of its time lounging on a small island of sludge (coal?), but did leave the island for a brief swim with Mallards at one point. Description: in the field the bird seemed about 20-30% larger than the nearby Mallards. It was superficially similar in coloration to a female Mallard, but with a honking, extremely long and sloping bill (sort of similar to CANV). The back and the top of the head were the darkest parts of the bird (sort of a dark brown), the flanks were a paler brown background with darker brown bars, and the head had a pale brown streak, sort of like a brushstroke shape, from near the bill to behind the eye. When sleeping, the bird was easily picked out because the breast was a darker shade of brown than all the nearby female Mallards.

Technical information

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2576 pixels x 2088 pixels

Original file size

966.26 KB