Lesser Scaup aka Perhaps …
Since my previous outing in Hawrelak Park was so productive, I decided to give it rerun honors and was not disappointed because I came across two more duck species I had not encountered before. After much ado, I believe this to be a Lesser Scaup male, simply because the highest point of the head seems to be at the rear of the head (reverse true for the Greater Scaup) and because we see purple iridescence on the head which we would not (according to my sources birding.about.com/od/identifyingbirds/a/scaupidentificati...) on the Greater Scaup. Nothing in life ever is easy and one of the markings, the black nail at the front of the bill extends beyond the nail which is a sign for a Greater Scaup. However, since this was seen in a fairly small pond and not in coastal waters, that also points to the Lesser Scaup. But, really, I’ll let the experts make the final call on this and may end up revising the title and the byline. Some people find it exciting to research and find out what actually it is you got a picture of; I’d much rather take a picture and know what it is (gives you way more time for concentrated beer consumption). Regardless, I was happy to be able to run across him and he seems to have a bit of a dreamy expression, possibly caused by the female being in the area and he’s wondering perhaps perhaps perhaps.
Perhaps perhaps perhaps – Doris Day
Lesser Scaup aka Perhaps …
Since my previous outing in Hawrelak Park was so productive, I decided to give it rerun honors and was not disappointed because I came across two more duck species I had not encountered before. After much ado, I believe this to be a Lesser Scaup male, simply because the highest point of the head seems to be at the rear of the head (reverse true for the Greater Scaup) and because we see purple iridescence on the head which we would not (according to my sources birding.about.com/od/identifyingbirds/a/scaupidentificati...) on the Greater Scaup. Nothing in life ever is easy and one of the markings, the black nail at the front of the bill extends beyond the nail which is a sign for a Greater Scaup. However, since this was seen in a fairly small pond and not in coastal waters, that also points to the Lesser Scaup. But, really, I’ll let the experts make the final call on this and may end up revising the title and the byline. Some people find it exciting to research and find out what actually it is you got a picture of; I’d much rather take a picture and know what it is (gives you way more time for concentrated beer consumption). Regardless, I was happy to be able to run across him and he seems to have a bit of a dreamy expression, possibly caused by the female being in the area and he’s wondering perhaps perhaps perhaps.
Perhaps perhaps perhaps – Doris Day