Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Not every week our residential group bird outing coincides with a Rare Bird Alert, but today we were in luck. Although its habitat is listed in field guides as "lakes and ponds" in summer and mostly along coasts in winter, these birds missed that cue.
Two WHITE-WNGED SCOTER (male and female) appeared to be enjoying their swim around the pond at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, AZ.
Having been reported two days previously on the rare bird list, we were fortunate that these rarities stuck around until we arrived around 9 a.m.
Among many other waterfowl, there were these two distinctive large dark ducks that found the pond. Ten of us walked toward the pond on its south side. Delighted that they were at this end not the north end as reported, we walked up and began taking photos. Having studied the birds ahead of time, we were certain that they were the WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and not the SURF SCOTER, with distinctively different diagnostic markers.
The Drake WWSC's head shape (more wedge-shaped than other scoters), and its deep-based bill with feathering extending down the sides of the bill to its nostril also set it apart from other scoters. Aside from those detailed differences, the color of the drake's orange bill and white under-eye crescent on its black head were striking. Its eyes appear white. The Hen has a dark brown head and crown with two faint oval white patches on the side of its face (one next to its black bill; one on its auricular). Its dark eyes and dark bill contrasted with the Drake's. The hen's white speculum was hidden while floating.
Additional birds among our 38 total species included a female CANVASBACK, below:
Seldom am I able to catch a photo of a PLUMBEOUS VIREO, below:
Although I observe LESSER SCAUP at several other nearby birding spots, this one was close enough for a decent photo, below:
The two photos I liked the best were:
1) OSPREY
2) AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN - a very large bird (62" long) very large bill with pouch
Hello to the Birders that showed up at this location. Some of them I hadn't seen for quite a while, so we enjoyed catching up with one another. Until next time...
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S126440315
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