Yesterday morning (1/30), Dave Wheeler and I checked out the large flock of ducks on the Lake Erie side of Bird Island Pier in Buffalo as viewable from the West Side Rowing Club parking lot accessed from Porter Ave. Several thousand mixed Scaup, Redhead, Canvasback, and Goldeneye were crammed into the "rips" just off the end of the pier, and while scanning through these birds, we spotted an unusual drake Aythya that appeared to be a hybrid REDHEAD x LESSER SCAUP/RING-NECKED DUCK. Most obvious was the L. Scaup/RN Duck-like size and shape (with peaked rear crown) combined with a Redhead-like gray mantle and flanks, blue bill with a fairly wide white subterminal band, and rufous-tinged maroon head color. There also appeared to be a small hint of white "spurs" at the sides of the breast, perhaps favoring Ring-necked Duck influence. In-flight, the remiges were pale grayish and paler than typical for Redhead. A very striking individual and a nice bird to see.
There was also a juv. BALD EAGLE in close that put on a bit of a show going after the ducks as well as a 1st-cycle ICELAND GULL that was floating by in the current. At least 3 times the Eagle tried to pluck the Iceland Gull out of the water, but would back out at the last minute. It appeared as if the Iceland Gull was injured as every time the Eagle came close, the gull went into a flapping frenzy but for some reason couldn't lift up out of the water. Eventually the Eagle gave up and sat down on the ice before flying off to the south, while I eventually lost view of the Iceland as it continued to float downriver. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
