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Subject:

Nemesis Bird

From:

Joanne Howl

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Date:

Sun, 3 Apr 2011 19:56:57 -0400

 I have been searching for a  "nemesis bird" for several years.  They are reasonably common, but for me quite difficult: BLUE-WINGED TEAL.   I've chased it repeatedly, following along after a lot e bird alerts as well as OSPREY reports.   But always to find the waters empty when I arrived.  

Today I went to School House Pond, and thought I got on a female Blue-Winged Teal very quickly, but it was just too far away to tell what I was seeing, for sure.   I went to get the scope ----- ooops!------ I had forgotten to bring it! I had nothing but binoculars to see all the way across the pond.   So I stalked around the pond, little by little, trying to get close.  After stalking it, and looking carefully as we walked from the entrance to the back platform, I kept my eye on the very suspicious female - but just wasn't sure. I could never get a clear view at a close enough range.   I spent a lot of time staring.... until my arms hurt, actually.  

As I walked away, defeated again, I saw two birds land on the pond very nearby - and flashing wonderfully blue wings!  They were well within binocular range - and suddenly I had an absolutely wonderful view of the male and the female BLUE WING TEAL.    Wonderful!  

I'm still not entirely sure of the ID of the other female - probably was a Green Wing Teal, however, as there were many of them in the vicinity.   

Nothing beats sheer dumb luck and being in the right place at the right moment!

Joanne


Joanne Howl, DVM

West River, MD

 


 

 



 

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