I think the scaup may have been a ringed-neck duck.
Note the wavy b/w border. Can't see where the border ends (usually up).
Note the white near the top of the bill. Tip s/b white ringed but cannot make it out.

 

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Derek C. Richardson" <> 

> A leisurely tour of Lake Artemesia in Berwyn Heights (near 
> College Park, PG County) this afternoon provided great views 
> of the female COMMON GOLDENEYE and BUFFLEHEAD reported last 
> week, along with a LESSER SCAUP and 3 PIED-BILLED GREBES. 
> Also had great looks at a couple of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. 
> Full report below. 
> 
> I'm not great with Scaup. I based my ID on the shape of the 
> head at rest (peaked toward the back), following Sibley. 
> Here's a photo taken at some distance: 
> 
> http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/xfer/IDs/scaup.jpg 
> 
> Any other opinions welcome. I also saw the bird in flight 
> and noted a shorter wing stripe than might be expected for 
> Greater Scaup. Also, I guess Lesser would prefer the lake? 
> 
> Here's a photo of the Goldeneye with the Bufflehead: 
> 
> http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/xfer/IDs/gold_n_buff.jpg 
> 
> Two questions: 1) is it surprising that there is no 
> discernible yellow on the Goldeneye's bill? 2) is it 
> possible to tell whether the Bufflehead is a female and not 
> a first-winter male? 
> 
> Finally, here's a photo of a raptor taken a few days ago on 
> the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park trail (again, a long way 
> away): 
> 
> http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/xfer/IDs/buteo.jpg 
> 
> Unfortunately the bird flew soon after the shot, so I didn't 
> get to study it for long. My best guess is Red-tailed Hawk 
> (immature?), but the front seems very pale. (Also had 
> female MERLIN that day!) 
> 
> Thanks for any ID help. :) Here is the Lake report: 
> 
> Report Details 
> Location name: Lake Artemesia 
> Observation date: 1/1/06 
> Duration: 2 hour(s) 20 minute(s) 
> # of people in birding party: 4 
> Are you reporting all the species you identified? Yes 
> Total # of species: 25 
> Observation type: Stationary Count 
> Start time: 1:30 PM 
> Distance covered: N/A 
> Area covered: N/A 
> Weather had a negative effect on my ability to collect 
> birding information: No 
> 
> Checklist diary notes: 
> First birds of 2006! We toured the lake slowly, 
> concentrating on the water. Unseasonably warm, mostly sunny, 
> light breeze. Highlights: scaup, bufflehead, goldeneye, and 
> kinglet. Two buteo sp overhead (long glide). May have heard 
> a second Red-bellied Woodpecker. Probably more 
> White-throated Sparrows. May have heard White-breasted 
> Nuthatch, starling, and robin. First solid ID of the year: 
> Blue Jay. 
> 
> Species Details 
> Species Name Number Reported 
> Canada Goose 250 
> Mallard 15 
> Lesser Scaup 1 
> Bufflehead 1 
> Common Goldeneye 1 
> Ruddy Duck 20 
> Pied-billed Grebe 3 
> Turkey Vulture 2 
> Ring-billed Gull 75 
> Mourning Dove 10 
> Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 
> Downy Woodpecker 1 
> Northern Flicker 1 
> Blue Jay 2 
> American Crow 1 
> Fish Crow 30 
> Carolina Chickadee 3 
> Carolina Wren 3 
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 
> Northern Mockingbird 6 
> Eastern Towhee 1 
> Song Sparrow 3 
> White-throated Sparrow 1 
> Dark-eyed Junco 2 
> Northern Cardinal 5 
> 
> -- 
> Derek C. Richardson, Ph.D. (CANTAB) ________ 
> Astronomy, U Maryland, College Park MD 20742 
> Tel: Office 301-405-8786 Fax 301-314-9067 __ 
> Home page: http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/ __