[ValleyNature] Port Wms. duck: not scaup, but a ring-neck

[James W. Wolford]

AUGUST 13, 2009 - During the noon hour, I scoped the Port Williams  
WEIRD DUCK and listened to CBC's Maritime Noon -- this is the closest  
I'll ever come to multi-tasking!!  Recall that I reported it as a  
fem./imm. lesser scaup, and then George Forsyth opined that it is  
very probably a RING-NECKED DUCK which he has been observing for some  
weeks or months there.

I watched it for a long time (south pond of Port Williams sewage  
ponds) with two different scopes and now agree with George.  When I  
first saw the bird I noted its weird head-shape, which was very  
angular but unlike a lesser scaup.  The white behind the beak is  
shaped sort of like the white crescent of a male blue-winged teal.   
The face is somewhat bicoloured, with the top part dark and lower  
part lighter to whitish.  I finally did see a narrow light eye ring  
and the eye was dark.  Finally, the duck kept its short tail pointed  
upward, much like a ruddy duck does.

Thus I guess this duck must be a yearling? RING-NECKED DUCK.

Humbly yours, from Jim in Wolfville -- thanks, George!

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