Greetings everyone. The frigid weather and increasing
ice cover on the lakes have resulted in huge
concentrations of waterfowl on the Detroit River of
late. As an example, yesterday afternoon, I estimated
a total of 1500 to 1600 Canvasbacks alone in a survey
of a 5-km stretch of the river between Alexander Park
and the Lakeview Marina. While methodically studying a
raft of ducks from the Abar's Tavern parking lot -- a
large group very close to shore -- I observed a female
Goldeneye sp. with what was clearly a very steep
forehead. I studied it carefully in the scope, trying
NOT to make it into a Barrow's, but the more I
observed it, the more I became convinced that its
appearance made it a perfect match for a first winter
female of that species. Since it was so close to shore
and afforded nice, leisurely comparisons with the
obvious female Common Goldeneyes, I was able to see
that in addition to the almost vertical forehead, its
bill appeared more short and stubby a la Barrow's, and
it had the puffy mane look and Barrow's head shape.
The bill was about 50 per cent yellow at the tip,
yellow to the nares. When I finally turned my
attention back to other birds, I was pretty much
convinced that this individual had to be a Barrow's --
my smidgeon of doubt stemming from the fact of the
species' extreme rarity in Essex County and my never
having seen one before. Hence the word "possible" in
my subject line.
Local birders who may want to try their luck finding
what may be a proverbial needle in the haystack should
scope the river from the Abar's location at the
intersection of Riverside Drive East and Lauzon Road,
or the Lakeview Park Marina further east at Riverdale
Road. The stretch of river in between is where the
bulk of all the waterfowl are concentrated, and where
a good winter gull may often be found. (I've had
Glaucous, Iceland, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls the
past few years.) Be sure to scan the trees on Peche
Island for raptors including Bald Eagle and Peregrine
Falcon.
Randy Horvath, Windsor
jeogwonja@yahoo.ca
Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
Greetings everyone. The frigid weather and increasing
ice cover on the lakes have resulted in huge
concentrations of waterfowl on the Detroit River of
late. As an example, yesterday afternoon, I estimated
a total of 1500 to 1600 Canvasbacks alone in a survey
of a 5-km stretch of the river between Alexander Park
and the Lakeview Marina. While methodically studying a
raft of ducks from the Abar's Tavern parking lot -- a
large group very close to shore -- I observed a female
Goldeneye sp. with what was clearly a very steep
forehead. I studied it carefully in the scope, trying
NOT to make it into a Barrow's, but the more I
observed it, the more I became convinced that its
appearance made it a perfect match for a first winter
female of that species. Since it was so close to shore
and afforded nice, leisurely comparisons with the
obvious female Common Goldeneyes, I was able to see
that in addition to the almost vertical forehead, its
bill appeared more short and stubby a la Barrow's, and
it had the puffy mane look and Barrow's head shape.
The bill was about 50 per cent yellow at the tip,
yellow to the nares. When I finally turned my
attention back to other birds, I was pretty much
convinced that this individual had to be a Barrow's --
my smidgeon of doubt stemming from the fact of the
species' extreme rarity in Essex County and my never
having seen one before. Hence the word "possible" in
my subject line.
Local birders who may want to try their luck finding
what may be a proverbial needle in the haystack should
scope the river from the Abar's location at the
intersection of Riverside Drive East and Lauzon Road,
or the Lakeview Park Marina further east at Riverdale
Road. The stretch of river in between is where the
bulk of all the waterfowl are concentrated, and where
a good winter gull may often be found. (I've had
Glaucous, Iceland, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls the
past few years.) Be sure to scan the trees on Peche
Island for raptors including Bald Eagle and Peregrine
Falcon.
Randy Horvath, Windsor
jeogwonja@yahoo.ca
______________________________________________________________________
Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
