ML613405062

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

***Very rare but annual in the greater region. First New Haven County record, albeit a bit overdue, and only the third TUDU in CT in the past decade or so. Incredible find by Paul Smith on Dec 15 in the last place I’d think to find a TUDU: a small roadside pond with barely enough room for all the CANG on it. Subtly pretty female bird with a tiny tuft, dark blackish-brown back, brown sides/flanks, deep maroon chest, yellow eye, black tip to beak, and limited-to-no white where the face meet the beak. Associating with a group of RNDU initially, but they disappeared behind the center island of the pond moments after I spotted it. When I tried a new vantage point, I found it diving by itself with no RNDU in sight. I was only able to stay a few minutes but hopefully this bird stays longer to delight many! Satisfying to finally win out on a chase after missing my last four! Photos to come

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

ISO

320

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

4809 pixels x 3206 pixels

Original file size

3.13 MB