RTF Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 There are these ducks I see every spring. After spring comes they are gone. This year I have seen more of them then ever. I believe they are a diving duck. They have a white body and what appears to be a black head but when the sun hits them, it is greenish. They fly very fast. Another duck is with them and could be the female of the same breed. They are dull perhaps brownish color with red tinted heads. Again they are divers and sit low to the water. They are only here during early spring. Any ideas ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob LeBlanc Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Could they be 'goldeneyes' ? http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0075.htm Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 No but close. I was told they where a red eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2labs Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Sounds like common mergansers, fish eaters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse8953 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Does this look like the one?http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowlGallery/96/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Bufflehead...they are a diver that is small, fast, drakes have a lot of white, hens are brown/tan...thats my final answer... http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0077.htm that should help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 They looks like these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob LeBlanc Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 Canvasback... http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0062.htm Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 Canvasback... http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/bns0062.htm Bob Agree, canvasback. Used to see them fairly often when I was stationed in Erie, PA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 Well if you are seeing a lot of canvasbacks, that is a very good thing...Their overall population density in the mississippi Flyway are down significantly...to the point where there are very strict regulations on when you can harvest them...A comeback of the canvasback would be a great thing...Glad to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisha Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 I'm guessing Bufflehead or Goldeneye as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisha Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 After rereading, you said they have a black head, that turns green when the sun hits it....... then it can't be a canvasback. *shrugs* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 After rereading, you said they have a black head, that turns green when the sun hits it....... then it can't be a canvasback. *shrugs* Yes the heads look jet black from a distance and the birds I am actually seeing are a bit smaller then these canvasbacks and fly like crazy and they are without a doubt a diving duck. I will try to get a picture of one with my camera if at all possible, but they have been getting scarce around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse8953 Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 greater scaup -black head that looks green:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 greater scaup -black head that looks green:D The head color of a great scaup is dead on, but the plumage is off. Put that head on a canvasback and you have the duck I am seeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 (edited) Common Goldeneye Barrows Goldeneye OR Greater Scaup Female Edited April 10, 2009 by buckee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 (edited) I agree with 2labs, sounds kinda like common sawbills. Buckee, that pic of a female scaup looks like a dull drake. Hen bluebills have white at the base of the bill. Edited April 11, 2009 by camoman1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 Sorry guys your wrong. I am just going to have to get the camera out and keep my eyes peeled. Most of them are already gone and have moved on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisha Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 LOL. This is a shot in the dark, but what about a Common Merganser? We'll narrow it down until we get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 A shoveler maybe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 Your sure it aint one of these??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 Looks just like it, almost to the T, but I don't know if the bill is red like that. It even has the green glimmer in the head. We have a lot of hooded merganser around here. I do know that. This is a common merganser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 Just looked at more pics of this bird (common merganser) and I think we have a winner. It would make sense since we are loaded with mergansers up here to begin with. I dont see this type of merganser when hunting ducks in the fall. Only hooded mergansers are seen. This is what threw me. I do know the duck pictured above fly's like a merganser and behaves like one when on the water. They also cloak just like a hooded merganser and dive like one. I should have know this bird belonged to the merganser family. Thanks Camoman ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted April 15, 2009 Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 I cant take all the credit. 2labs and Alisha both said the same thing...i just put up the picture:D It was a good team effort by all to narrow it down!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 Yeah, that bright red bill threw me for a loop for a minute. Unless your right on top of them with sun light shinning, you don't see it. I will try my darnedest to get some pics of the ones I am seeing. These birds are only here in the spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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