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Posted by Scott on 21:42:43 11/12/06
Yesterday, I went on the STA-5 birding tour, and it was a great day for birding. I did not keep a list, but the highlight, at least for me, were the Fulvous Whistling ducks. What beautiful ducks! The sun was hitting them just right, they looked like they were glowing, as if someone had just plugged them in. Other ducks seen were the Gadwall, American Wigeon, Ring Neck Duck, Northern Shoveler, lots of Blue Wing Teal, Coots, and several Purple Swamphens. Posing for pictures was a perched Peregrine Falcon, not too high up, and many Kestrels on the wires. As for shorebirds, many, many Yellowlegs of both species were present, as well as a few Dunlin. Altogether for the day I'm sure we had over 50 species. Thanks to Margaret England for her hard work in putting that tour together.
Today, I went to the Viera Wetlands, and yes, the Masked Duck is still there, and very cooperative. Other ducks seen were Cinammon Teal (female), many, many Blue Wing Teal, Green Wing Teal, Hooded Merganser (male and female), Ring Necked Duck, and thousands of coots. Also, to my surprise and delight, was a Crested CaraCara, along with an American Bittern, which was out in the open, in its classic pose (looking up at the sky). To close out the night (dusk actually)was a perched Barred Owl, who was very cooperative. I do have a question for the experts out there. Does the female Cinnamon Teal have a red eye, and are there any other ducks that also resemble the teal with a red eye. As I was looking at her, she looked alot like the female blue wing teals that were with her, but that red eye was unmistakable. Please help!
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