[leasbirds] Re: Black-bellied Whistling (Tree) Duck
- From: Anthony Hewetson <fattonybirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 23 May 2014 11:28:28 -0500
Greetings Bill:
Great sighting and nice story. I wasn't able to get out this morning but
will swing by the park this afternoon. They like flooded grass better than
just about any other habitat - it might come back.
Thanks for posting so quickly.
Anthony
On Fri, May 23, 2014 at 9:11 AM, WILLIAM WENTHE <wwenthe@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> After posting my previous message I went and observed the duck from a
> little after 8 am to 8:25, at which point a guy with two dogs frightened it
> off (not intentionally). I waited five minutes to see if it might return,
> but it was flying pretty much in a beeline in the direction of Clapp Park.
> That is, straight southeast of Tech Terrace Park. I took some photos, but
> it will take a while for me to figure out how to download them from this
> brand new camera my wife bought, and which I was fortunately able to figure
> out enough to take shots with. The photos won't be great, but I believe
> they'll clearly enough show the birds distinctive markings.
>
> Speaking of which, I take comfort in the fact that Sibley's guide prints
> "unmistakable" next to its picture of the Black-bellied Whistling Duck (I'm
> used to the old name, "Tree Duck." By the way, this is a lifer for
> me--I've no prior experience with them; but am aided by the fact that this
> is hardly a subtle looking bird.)
>
> With 8 power binoculars I got a detailed look at it, feeding in flooded
> grass (it only briefly waded in the pond formed by the rain) perhaps 40
> yards away. I first glimpsed it while driving my daughter to school; I had
> brought binoculars because the park was flooded and interesting things have
> a way of turning up in Tech Terrace Park when flooded. What struck me
> first was the long, stout legs--my first thought was: ibis?? But then I
> glassed it and saw it was a Black-bellied Whistling Duck. Here's the
> description I noted while observing it later, at leisure, and at closer
> distance:
>
> Most apparent: The black belly, starting midway at the belly and
> extending rearward. The gray cheek. The clown-orang-red beak. The long
> legs, light pink. Dark eye with light but quite observable eye-ring.
> Rich brown back and front part of belly. White and light brown edge to
> folded wing. When it flew away, the white wing-stripes were bold and
> unmistakable.
>
> Closer observations: The beak is actually two-toned: the very tip is
> grayish. The top of the head is kind of flat, and showed at times a kind
> of crested look--maybe this effect had to do with the fact it was raining.
> Also, when it faced away from me, I could see the brown on the top of the
> head extended in a kind of line down the back of the neck to the back. The
> brown back and breast were not so uniform as shown in Sibley: it got
> lighter as it approached the black belly, and there was a distinctive
> beige-brown tinge just before the black belly. Also, the back (by which I
> mean all that is seen when wings are folded, that is, the back and folded
> wings) shaded from a full brown to a lighter, more buffy brown, then the
> wing edge of white and very light brown.
>
> When the dogs first appeared on other side of pond, and some other ducks
> (mallard) flew overhead, this duck vocalized. Gave me a little
> performance, about 8 times. It was a whistling call, but hoarse compared
> to, say, widgeon or teal. It's syllables were like this:
> pip-PEEEP-pip-pip-pip-pip. One very short note then the loud longer higher
> note, then four very short notes.
>
> Again, it left the park at 8:25, heading southeast. Clapp? Canyon
> Lakes? Also note that I didn't see it swim at all: it was walking on
> flooded grass, rather vigorously pulling things out of there; then it waded
> in the shallow edge of the pond, then headed back up the grass.
>
> Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I hope others get to see it
> because it's a pretty handsome bird.
>
> Bill
>
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