I returned to Lake Artemesia later than I wanted to this morning (around 
9:45) and found the mystery duck fast asleep out in the middle of the 
lake (off the fishing pier).  After about five minutes, she woke up (a 
passing Metro train helped), stretched and preened a bit and then 
started swimming straight toward me - into the shallow bay where I've 
always seen her before.

As before, the most obvious field marks were the dark head, breast, 
back, and rear (which I would call "brown" in the better light) and the 
broad white patch at the base of the bill.  This time, I got a good look at 
the bill through the scope - it was good-sized, blue-gray in color, with a 
black tip.   Also, the difference between the back and the sides seemed 
less marked than in previous looks.  Again, in good light, I would 
describe the sides and flanks as grayish-brown and somewhat barred.  
Also, there was no trace of a vertical white "spur" on the side (as in a 
Ring-necked Duck).  When she stretched her wings, I could see a white 
stripe along the trailing edge (also indicative of a scaup, rather than a 
Ring-neck).  I too flirted with the notion of a hybrid for awhile, but I think 
that the evidence really points toward a female scaup.

So, which scaup?  Once she started diving actively, the shape of the 
head became a problem.  On the one hand, it could be described as 
"low" because there wasn't that much distance between the eye and the 
top of the head.  But on the other hand, it did have a "squared off" look 
to it, as described by Sibley.  Indeed, comparing the pictures of adult 
breeding females in Sibley, it looked more like the Lesser Scaup.

So, while I am usually VERY reluctant to call the species of a female 
scaup in the absence of any males, I think I'm going with Lesser.  And 
given that Lake Artemesia is a shallow, inland lake - a Lesser would be 
a bit more probable, I suppose.

Aren't ducks just LOADS of fun?  At least, unlike Little Brown Birds, they 
tend to hang around and give you a chance to look at them.  Thanks a 
lot, Derek and Cliff, for your input.  And good luck, Derek, if you decide 
to get some more photos of her.

Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD  (PG County)
   

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