Date: 1/12/13 6:15 pm
From: <jovet...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Ft. Smallwood Tufted Duck?


Late this morning Jon Ranson and I believe we found a female tufted duck swimming with a group of scaup at Ft. Smallwood. The bird had a small tuft on the back of her head, and no white at all on her face. She was chocolate brown on her wings and back, although it appeared she had a very light frosting of white on her shoulders. The sides were a lighter brown. The bill was dark, but some blue was seen with a distinct black tip. She was feeding close in, maybe 15 feet off the point, when first seen, and she was leading about 8-10 scaup towards a very small inlet. Jon and I chased the birds to the inlet, where then came within about 3 feet of shore - about 10 feet from us. Light was excellent at this second spot. We got got views both with binoculars and scope.

I tried to get photos with my iphone, and believe I completely failed but am searching to see if there is anything that I 'saved' <sigh>.

If anyone has seen an aberrant scaup female, or if there have been reports of female tufted there - or if anyone confirms this bird, I sure would like a report!

Joanne

Joanne Howl, DVM
<jovet...>
West River, MD

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