Ashebridge's Bay Waterbird Bonanza

[Rotarran]

Here are some pics of some new birds I saw and photographed:

Here's the Common Goldeneye:


Here's the Redhead


Gadwall


Lesser Scaup (I think) - please correct if I'm wrong


Female Red-Breasted Merganzer - please correct if I'm wrong


Mute Swan


And last but in a way most important, the mystery bird.  What the heck is this?

[Palo]

Nice find Rotarren!  Your mystery bird looks like an American Coot.  I spotted one at Colonel Samuel Smith Park a couple of weeks ago, but could not get close enough to get a good photo. Congrats.

[thouc]

Nice pictures! The Merganser is a Red-breasted female as you said.

The head-shape of the Scaup is difficult to determine with the angle of the head, but it looks like a first year male. Do you have any other pictures of the bird?

/Thomas

[Rotarran]

Nice find Rotarren!  Your mystery bird looks like an American Coot.  I spotted one at Colonel Samuel Smith Park a couple of weeks ago, but could not get close enough to get a good photo. Congrats.

You're right!! I didn't even think to look outside of the Duck family.  The American Coot is a type of water chicken apparently.  Wow, had I known, I would have tried to get more pics of that sucker.  There were so many species it was overwhelming almost lol.  Thank you.

[Rotarran]

Nice pictures! The Merganser is a Red-breasted female as you said.

The head-shape of the Scaup is difficult to determine with the angle of the head, but it looks like a first year male. Do you have any other pictures of the bird?

/Thomas

Yeah man here are a few more:

[thouc]

I think you are right with Lesser Scaup. The head looks smaller with a bit of a peak in the middle picture.

[cosmo3667]

Swung by there today mid day was not very good bunch of seagulls on the Ice 1 Hooded Merganser, numerous Mallards, flock of Canada Goose, some Longtails. very sittish soon as I approached swam or flew further out making for poor photo ops so took none. But did enjoy your photos which made me swing by for a visit and look see mabe next time.

[Rotarran]

Try Humber Bay...went there a bit late yesterday but still saw lots of variety.