Such was the case this afternoon in pouring rain when I spotted a scaup in the distance by the Peninsula thumb from my West Island shelter perch. Of course I had to walk all the way over there to see the head shape. Among 5 RUDDY DUCKS, it was a sleeping drake LESSER SCAUP. Moments later, as I ventured into the thumb , the drake RING-NECKED DUCK swam away from the shore and joined the scaup, a nice comparison of these often confusing species.
Earlier, along the well drive shore , the drake RED-BREASTED MERGANSER eyed me warily. Then while i was on the thumb, a hen RED BREASTED MERGANSER in the strait . Beyond the latter bird, 43 NORTHERN SHOVELERS focused in the Duck Island area, along the phragmites.
But most notable if no one has really noticed , HOODED MERGANSERS are in good force. Between the new islands Music and Teardrop Islands, in the rink cove, 14 of these birds mixed together, swimming along in whatever open water there was with ice a main deterrent in the southern lullwater. Overall, 22 Hoodies was my number. Yesterday, the 24 was a highest historical total after a quick scan of the records. Even Cornell Ebird question my number saying it was "high". Hope this Hoodie invasion will be a new winter phenomenon in winters to come. They are really delightful exquisite ducks to observe.
Prospect Park--Prospect Lake, Kings, US-NY
Feb 23, 2013 2:10 PM - 3:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
15 species (+1 other taxa)
Mute Swan 7
American Black Duck 1
Mallard X
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) X
Northern Shoveler 43
Ring-necked Duck 1 drake
Lesser Scaup 1 drake
Bufflehead 1 hen
Hooded Merganser 22 good year for them
Red-breasted Merganser 2 , mix pair
Ruddy Duck 15
American Coot 21
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Black-capped Chickadee 1
9 duck species View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13165640
