Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Adult Male - X
Media notes
Observed at Walker Ponds near Blinds W10 and W9. Photographed on 18 June 2017.
Observation details
What appears to be a male Common (Eurasian) Green-winged Teal was observed this afternoon, June 18, at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area. The location is in the north east corner of the Walker Ponds corresponding to W9 and W10 on the hunting blind map (available at the SJWA Kiosk on Davis Road). The bird spent much of the time hidden within an island of reeds, and unlike the other ducks present this individual was pretty active when out of the reeds. My pictures aren’t terrific given sun angle, harsh light and distance but through the scope diagnostic field marks were clearly observed. This includes the more obvious long white horizontal scapular bar, and the stronger white-creamy facial markings that were apparent from the base of the bill. Through the scope we could see no trace of a vertical white bar associated with American Green-winged Teal and intergrades. However, the individual appeared to be beginning to molt into eclipse plumage and so more diagnostic features may be muted. Curtis Marantz was the other observer and also took photographs, perhaps closer and in better light. Also present in and out of the reeds were two Wilson’s Phalarope (1 female in alternate plumage and what appeared to be a male (photos available), a single alternate plumage Greater Yellowlegs, and an alternate plumage Long-billed Dowitcher (photos available). Of interest on adjacent Mystic Lake were four Clark’s Grebes and a carefully estimated 125 Eared Grebe nests. My Flickr album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aem123/albums/72157682257833724
Technical information
- Model
- Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Lens
- EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
- ISO
- 400
- Focal length
- 400 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/10.0
- Shutter speed
- 1/1000 sec
- Dimensions
- 1276 pixels x 851 pixels
- Original file size
- 403.48 KB