Subject: [Tweeters] Falcated Duck, Padilla Bay
Date: Jan 15 20:01:26 2017
From: rick klawitter - klawitterrichard at yahoo.com


Today at approximately 9:30 AM a friend and I first sighted a male Falcated Duck in among a small group of American Wigeons from the cabins at Bayview State Park.? We followed the bird as it drifted further south and at which point it flew further south joining a large mixed group of Mallards, Widgeons, and Pintails.? Excellent views of the duck were made in sunlight with calm water and from a distance of 20 yards or more with the striking iridescent green head with central long reddish brown feathers giving the head a unique profile,? slender black bill, pale throat, falcated tertials, and grey body all clearly seen.? I am not familiar with birding Padilla Bay and do not know if there are any escaped domestic birds in the area.? I have never seen this bird before, so the possibility of mistaken identification exists, despite the excellent views.? I have photos for verification.? The bird was last seen flying into the adjacent field where Trumpeter Swans were feeding at about noon.