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Subject:

Cinnamon teal - probable bluewing hybrid at Jug Bay

From:

Jeff Shenot

Reply-To:

Jeff Shenot

Date:

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 22:06:17 -0500

Today I got a call from Danny Bystrak that he saw what he thinks is a 
cinnamon teal hybrid at Jug Bay.  I looked all over for it at various 
times and locations (both above the railroad crossing and below it) with 
no luck, until finally I found the bird late in the afternoon at the 
southern end of Jug Bay.  I saw it from Selby’s Landing at Patuxent River 
Park; it was upstream of the dock and all the way across from the “Canoe 
Camp”, near the AA Co shore).  It was very distant, but with a spotting 
scope I did get a good enough view to see it well.  Unfortunately, it was 
too distant to photograph.

When he saw it (in the AM), it was with a large group of green-winged 
teal; I looked at the same buch of birds he saw about a half hour later, 
but they had spread out quite a bit and I could not find the bird.  When I 
first saw it, it was with a small group of black ducks (~7-8); I lost it   
briefly, and then found it by itself.  I watched it for a few minutes 
before a pair of eagles scattered the waterfowl, and then could not 
relocate it.  Due to all the recreational activity on the river on this 
absolutely beautiful day, the waterfowl were mostly pushed back into the 
marsh fringes and mud flats, which made for difficult searching.   But 
once I saw it, it was unmistakable and is a beautiful male; it appears to 
be a cross with a blue-winged teal.  It is entirely a cinnamon teal in 
plumage except for a distinct white patch on the flank (I don’t know the 
correct term; it’s on the lower side of its rear and in front of the rump, 
which was black).  Danny said he’s having trouble posting to Osprey 
lately, and I should post this.

I hope to try again tomorrow and if I can get a closer view maybe I’ll get 
a photo or video.  If any one finds the bird tomorrow (Sunday) and has a 
cell phone, if you could, please give me a call at 301-580-4524.

Regards-

Jeff Shenot
Croom MD