[NatureNS] Unknown duck

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Thank you Paul.  I ruled out a ring-necked duck as the bird that I saw was =
much lighter and the way it sat on the water and swam did not fit in with a=
 ring-necked duck.  It's actions and build were more like that of a teal an=
d that is why I thought initially that it might be a female blue-winged tea=
l.  The bill shape also was more like that ot a pintail.  The coloration of=
 the bird as per the body and the black wing tips is reflective of a cinnam=
on teal=2C but the size of the bird would rule that option out.  I thought =
about a female garganey=2C but the bird was not that dark and I did not see=
 an eyeline.  Have you ever seen a female northern pintail with black on th=
e last three to four inches of the wings?  If not I'm drawing a blank as to=
 what the duck might have been.  The pintail would be the most logical choi=
ce=2C but I can't say that I was able to see the extended tail.  Maybe that=
 would not show in a juvenile.  I've not had enough experience with them to=
 know.  Again I appreciate your knowledge and look forward to what you thin=
k.  Thank you again.
=20
Sincerely=2C
=20
James


James R. Hirtle

=20



Date: Fri=2C 19 Oct 2012 06:25:39 -0700
From: paulrita2001@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Unknown duck
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca



The most likely duck in Nova Scotia for a duck slightly smaller
than a black is a Ring-necked Duck?
Why would you not rule that out first?
Paul










From: James Hirtle <jrhbirder@hotmail.com>
To: Naturens Naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>=20
Sent: Friday=2C October 19=2C 2012 12:42:29 AM
Subject: [NatureNS] Unknown duck






Hi all:
=20
A number of weeks back I had a mystery duck at Broad Cove.  It was a rainy =
day and my initial impression was of a blue-winged teal.  Upon closer inspe=
ction through the scope I decided that my id was wrong.  The duck bothered =
me as it was smaller than an American black duck nearby=2C but not by a who=
le lot.  So I ruled out teal.  I'm now thinking maybe a female northern pin=
tail.  It was a light brown/tawny color with a black bill.  The body shape =
definitely was distinctive of a pintail.  The part that bothers me about th=
e id is that the wings folded over the back were jet black.  Not the whole =
wing=2C but about three or four inches of the wing ends.  I've ruled out ga=
dwall as the tail would have been black.    If this is a feature on a femal=
e pintail=2C I've never noticed it before=2C the books do not really show t=
hat as an id.  Maybe it was a juvenile bird.  Paul MacDonald=2C I know has =
had a lot of experience with ducks and if you read this Paul I would really=
 appreciate your opinion.  Of course anyone else with knowledge along those=
 lines=2C I also would appreciate your thoughts and thank you in advance.  =
I tried to get photos=2C but admittedly failed. =20
=20
The other bird that I saw that I will mention was what I would discribe as =
a crow with a short tail=2C that was the size of a blue jay.  This bird I o=
bserved on Saturday.  I was rushing home for a dinner engagement and did no=
t wish to be late for it.  As I came to a stop in Bridgewater at the light =
by the Bridgewater Tim Hortons=2C at the East Side Plaza=2C this bird came =
gliding across in front of me.  At first I thought it was just an American =
crow=2C but I took a second take and realized that it was only blue jay siz=
e.  The distance was maybe ten feet in front of me when the bird went by.  =
It landed upon the roof of the Tim Hortons on the edge.  It appeared as ver=
y small and blue jay size at that angle as well.  When it hopped down off t=
he edge onto the roof itself=2C it was so tiny that I could no longer see i=
t.  I'm sorry that I did not have time to pull in and view it better.  I've=
 since tried to relocate this bird=2C but have not been successful.  Unless=
 I can relocate it and get photos or someone else happens to see it we will=
 leave it as an unknown.  =20
=20
James R. Hirtle
Bridgewater



 		 	   		  =

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<FONT size=3D3>Thank you Paul.&nbsp=3B I ruled out a ring-necked duck as th=
e bird that I saw was much lighter and the way it sat on the water and swam=
 did not fit in with a ring-necked duck.&nbsp=3B It's actions and build wer=
e more like that of a teal and that is why I thought initially that it migh=
t be a female blue-winged teal.&nbsp=3B The bill shape also was more like t=
hat ot a pintail.&nbsp=3B The coloration of the bird as per the body and th=
e black wing tips is reflective of a cinnamon teal=2C but the size of the b=
ird would rule that option out.&nbsp=3B I thought about a female garganey=
=2C but the bird was not that dark and I did not see an eyeline.&nbsp=3B Ha=
ve you ever seen a female northern pintail with black on the last three to =
four inches of the wings?&nbsp=3B If not I'm drawing a blank as to what the=
 duck might have been.&nbsp=3B The pintail would be the most logical choice=
=2C but I can't say that I was able to see the extended tail.&nbsp=3B Maybe=
 that would not show in a juvenile.&nbsp=3B I've not had enough experience =
with them to know.&nbsp=3B Again I appreciate your knowledge and look forwa=
rd to what you think.&nbsp=3B Thank you again.</FONT><BR>
<FONT size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp=3B<BR>
<FONT size=3D3>Sincerely=2C</FONT><BR>
<FONT size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp=3B<BR>
<FONT size=3D3>James<BR>
<BR id=3DFontBreak></FONT><BR><BR>James R. Hirtle<BR><BR>&nbsp=3B<BR>
<DIV>
<DIV id=3DSkyDrivePlaceholder></DIV>
<HR id=3DstopSpelling>
Date: Fri=2C 19 Oct 2012 06:25:39 -0700<BR>From: paulrita2001@yahoo.com<BR>=
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Unknown duck<BR>To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR><BR>
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff=3B FONT-FAMILY: times new roman=2C new=
 york=2C times=2C serif=3B COLOR: #000=3B FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV><SPAN>The most likely duck in Nova Scotia for a duck slightly smaller<=
/SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent=3B FONT-STYLE: normal=3B FONT-F=
AMILY: 'times new roman'=2C 'new york'=2C times=2C serif=3B COLOR: rgb(0=2C=
0=2C0)=3B FONT-SIZE: 16px"><SPAN>than a black is a Ring-necked Duck?</SPAN>=
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent=3B