Hi Tweets,

Forgot to mention attention caught by an odd-looking female scaup-type
hybrid in the big flock that landed in late afternoon, think it might have
been a cross between a Ring-necked Duck (RNDU) Aythya collaris and Greater
Scaup (GRSC) A. marila. Was along the 'N' side of the Lagoon in a large
flock of newly-arrived Lesser Scaup (LESC) A. affinis with a few GRSC males
and females and one RNDU male. Direct plumage and structural comparisons
with LESC, GRSC, and RNDU of both sexes and all age classes present.
Sighting duration 2 min., distances from 20 to 50 meters, through 10x40 bins.

Description--as adult female GRSC in size and plumage *except*:

--steep slant-back (the 'Mayan' look) forehead as RNDU;
--crown highest at rear-crown, as RNDU or LESC;
--strongly rounded rear-crown peak, as RNDU, not LESC;
--longer, narrower bill than GRSC with narrow pale grey subterminal ring;
--very large brilliant white patch around base of bill, as GRSC;
--longer-necked than GRSC

otherwise:
--head, neck and chest dark brown;
--folded wings blackish-brown;
--sides dirty grey-brown, mottled and vertically barred darker grey;
--pale eye;

Headshape and pale ring on bill suggest RNDU, plumage features GRSC.

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)