Tweets,

I've lurked here a long time, but now I have a story that must be shared.

Today (sunday, 2/25) three of us (Doug Plummer, Robin Shapiro and Doreen
Gillespie) birded at Nisqually NWR. A wonderful day filled with many flocks
of Golden Crowned and Ruby Crowned Kinglets, Black capped Chickadees, and
singing Song Sparrows. Including the 3 immature Bald Eagles, the most
notable sighting were 2 (and possibly 3) Peregrine Falcons, especially one
gave us a great show as it harassed a Short Eared Owl over the tideflat.

It was while at the overlook at the tideflats that I spotted a duck I
didn't recognize. It was a true "What the heck is this?" moment. Through
the scope I spied sitting low in the water a large duck with dull grey
upperparts, head slightly darker, and creamy buff chest and throat, bill
orange-red with a black tip, blue speculum, white tail. There was a clear
demarcation between the grey head and buff cheek and throat. I had never
seen anything like it. It looked large, and when a Bufflehead surfaced near
it it was obviously a big bird. I thought, some weird Asian goose? but the
bill looked more like a Canvasback than a goose's bill. Doreen got all
excited, and I assiduously started taking notes. Robin helpfully suggested,
"Maybe it's a decoy!", as much to tweak our earnest zeal as anything. I was
mildly nervous, realizing that I was going to have to come up with proper
documentation, and it had been years since I had needed to do so. I got a
few frames off with a 600mm lens, but it was awfully far away. I made a
sketch, and took a page full of notes.

Some other birders came along who looked by the caliber of their binos that
they might be able to help us. One looked through my scope, screwed up his
face and said, "Hey Brian, look at this." Brian obliged and stared for a
few moments. "Umm, Mallard decoy I believe. Couldn't tell you the
manufacturer."

My wife Robin is gleefully reporting this story to all our friends as I
write.

Doug Plummer
Seattle, WA
dplummer at compuserve.com