----- Original Message -----
From: DanW
To: Rolan Nelson
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 10:04 AM
Subject: Re: Tufted Duck


Hey there,
It had to be a Tufted duck. At a couple of angles we could make out a tuft towards the back of the head. It most definitely had the distinctive white patch on the side. It was NOT gray. At the times that I couldn't make out the actual tuft I could see that it had a smooth head on top. And the top of it's back was VERY dark. No gray or light color. So that ruled out the others. I am almost positive that is what it was.
I knew that it was rare around here and I kept trying to make it a different duck but I couldn't. I kept going back to the Tufted. It was hard to make out the tuft and I could barely see a trace of it but I'm sure it was there. And the other counter that was with me saw a tuft also.
The location that we saw it at was right as the 2 lane road turns into one lane, there is a little parking space and a walkway out to the bay. The walkway is somewhat flooded right now but we were easily able to walk around the side of the temporary pond. And that is the first walkway to the bay in the park, and the first parking space too on the right side as you go into the park. There is also a little trail on the other side from the parking space and a small wooden outhouse.
I am definitely going back out there today without a doubt to see if I can spot him again. He was all alone and didn't seem to mind any of the other ducks. The only behavior I could really see was that he kept looking upward. He wasn't very far from the shore maybe 200-400 feet out. As he paddled there was little or no movement in the body, smooth scrolling.
He never made a sound or any calls at all. Very quiet and solitary acting.
I hope some of this helps. I hope I get to see him again.
----- Original Message -----
From: Rolan Nelson
To: Dan Williams
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 7:35 AM
Subject: Tufted Duck


Good morning Dan,

I sent a reply to your report of a TUFTED DUCK this morning but I'm not sure it got through. My "sent" mail doesn't show any text. I just was asking if you saw the long, loose tuft of crown feathers, or whether it could have been a RING-NECKED DUCK or one of the SCAUPS. TUFTED DUCKS are pretty scarce here, (BUT not impossible!)

-Rolan



Rolan Nelson
Burley, WA
rnbuffle at yahoo.com




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