[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Surf Scoters and others on Lake Hickory



Today at the Oxford Boat Access on Lake Hickory (Conover, NC) we had two
immature Surf Scoters!  When we first saw them, they both had their heads
tucked under their wings taking a nap.  Our initial thought was that they
were Ruddy Ducks.  But we decided to wait them out and see for sure what
they were.  It took almost half an hour before one popped its head up.  But
when it did!  It had the classic "snoz" of a scoter and the two white
patches on the face (one oval behind the base of the bill and one behind the
eye).  There was no white patch on the nape of the neck prompting for the
immature identification instead of being female.  We were able to "size"
them due to their very close proximity to two Gadwall.  They were just
slightly smaller in size to the Gadwall, whereas there would have been more
of a size difference had they been Ruddy Ducks.  They also were both very
cooperative and stretched out their wings making it quite obvious that they
were in fact Surf, instead of White-winged Scoters.  We were able to see
them dive several times near the shore for mussels(?).  They preened quite a
bit too.  What a treat this far inland!

Also at Oxford Boat Access:  2 Gadwall, 1 Horned Grebe (our first this
fall), 14 Pied-billed Grebes, 1 American Kestrel, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, and
a Fish Crow (flying south on the river).

At Dusty Ridge Boat Access (Alexander County) we had:  1 American Kestrel, 1
Pied-billed Grebe, 1 American Coot, 1 Great Blue Heron, and 14 Ruddy Ducks.

*************************
Dwayne & Lori Martin
Foothills Bird Club
Claremont, NC
dlmartin@twave.net