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English and Scientific names: |
Eurasian Wigeon, Anas penelope
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Number of individuals: |
One, Male, Apparently young male, burnt orange head apparent but cream-colored crown not seen. |
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Locality: LOUISIANA: |
Ascension |
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Specific Locality: |
Crawfish Pond No. 3, Coastal Rentals, McElroy Swamp - approximately one mile north of US 61 about 2 miles east of Sorrento, Louisiana. |
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Date(s) when observed: |
December 8, 2005 |
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Time(s) of day when
observed: |
Approximately 9:30 AM
CST |
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Reporting observer and address: |
Jay V. Huner, Boyce, Louisiana 71409 |
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Other observers accompanying reporter who
also identified the bird(s): |
None |
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Other
observers who independently identified the bird(s): |
None |
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Light
conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount
of light): |
Bright morning with sun
to my back. |
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Optical equipment: |
Zeiss, 10 x 40 Conquest
Binoculars |
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Distance to
bird(s): |
Approximately 50 m |
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Duration of
observation: |
Approximately one
minute. |
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Habitat: |
Crawfish pond with alligator weed, smartweed, and indigo plant cover. |
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Behavior of bird: |
The bird was close to and in front of a flock of approximately 30 drake Northern Pintails. All ducks were in full alert when I spotted them with the European Wigeon and the pintails watching me. The birds had been feeding and flushed soon after I moved to get a better look at the wigeon. |
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Description: |
saw a bird that was about 3/4 the size of the adjacent drake Northern Pintails. The bird had a burnt orange head and a bluish bill. I did not see a cream-colored crown. All of the assembled ducks flushed vertically, characteristic of puddle ducks. |
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Voice: |
None heard. |
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Similar
species: |
The only duck that would be similar would have been a drake Redhead. However, the head was not as round as that of a Redhead and not as bright "red". In addition, the birds were in heavy vegetation, primarily smartweed. Redheads are typically found in open water. Note that the assembled ducks flushed vertically, characteristic of puddle ducks. |
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Photographs
or tape recordings obtained? |
None. But, even if I had a camera, the birds flushed to quickly too permit making a photo. |
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Previous
experience with this species: |
I have seen European Wigeons in Finland on at least half a dozen occasions. I also saw a drake in November of this year on a trip to Nova Scotia. |
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Identification aids: |
None available at time
of observation. |
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This description is written from: |
I made simple notes at the time of the observation. |
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Are
you positive of your identification? If not, explain: |
I am as positive as I can be about the identification as I can be considering the limited time of observation. |
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Reporter: |
Jay V. Huner
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Date and time: |
December 20, 2005, 12:40 PM. |