MD Osprey:

A check of references and web images indicates that this bird is a 
male in basic (winter) plumage (either first-winter or adult winter). 
This accounts for the smudgy brownish sides and shorter than 
"classic" tuft. Bill characteristics look good for elimination of a hybrid.

Thanks to Joe Hanfman, Kevin Graff, and Wayne Bell for inputs.

Good luck ... may you have better weather ...

Phil


At 20:17 01/06/2009, Phil Davis wrote:
>MD Osprey:
>
>A few of us had the male Tufted Duck this afternoon (Tue 1/6) at the 
>High Street marina in Cambridge that Joe Hanfman described, but at a 
>slightly different location.
>
>I arrived at 2:15, at the same time as Wayne Bell, in sucky weather. 
>Jan Reese was already on the bird. From the High Street marinia, we 
>walked straight out on the pier about 1/2 way and joined Jan there. 
>He was scoping the flock that Joe described earlier in the marina 
>but to the left (down river direction). Les Roslund and Norm 
>Saunders joined us. Then the flock took flight upriver but circled 
>back and landed in the same area in the marina.Eventually we ended 
>up at the white shack with the red roof, on the pier, and watched 
>the flock toward the downriver direction (within the marina 
>breakwater). The flock never approached us very closely and a scope 
>was needed for a good look. I took some photos (flight and 
>swimming), but they are not great. It was cold (34 degrees, breezy, 
>and variable rain ... burrrr ...)
>
>Good luck!
>
>Phil
>
>
>==================================
>Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
>                 mailto:[log in to unmask]
>==================================