ML614340578

Age and sex

Adult Male - 1

Observation details

🟠 I knew the annual Seneca Lake Tufted Duck had to be around but after striking out at Perry Point a couple weeks ago and Seneca Lake State Park last weekend (both had massive Aythya flocks) I was beginning to get a bit worried. Less than 12 hours ago, I was saying I might not get a TUDU this winter! I came here this morning to see the RNGR and saw an Aythya flock of a few hundred just north of Bozzuto Boathouse, so I walked down the path towards the train tracks. From there, I had very close views to scan with the bins. After 5 minutes or so I hadn’t noticed the TUDU, but suddenly, there he was. A beautiful adult male with a great long tuft and bright white flanks providing a striking contrast to his black back. He was swimming with the flock comprised largely of Redheads, and dove a few times to feed. Shortly after, the entire flock took off as a boat drove by (not very close interestingly), and different groups flew around the lake for a few minutes before most returned to this spot. The TUDU however did not return to this location. The flock continued to flush a couple more times as boats drove by further out onto the lake, but I didn’t see him again. I am sure he is around somewhere though, probably south of here (I scanned the entire north end of the lake for him after leaving here).

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS R5

Lens

EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

ISO

2500

Focal length

200 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/2.8

Shutter speed

1/800 sec

Dimensions

2165 pixels x 1444 pixels

Original file size

2.34 MB