Possible Tufted Duck Sumas Prairie Mar 22

[Gord]

Earlier today Jamie and I had a few minutes to drive through Sumas Prairie. Lots of swans still including four Tundra Swans. We were hoping for bluebirds but did not see any. But we may have discovered something to make up for it! On #5 Road between Dixon and Interprovincial in the big ditch among the ducks a female diver in close caught my eye. It flew a few moments after I looked at it through the binoculars. I noted the white in the wings on the secondaries extended a into the primaries. It landed and I looked at it through the scope. It is certainly a different looking duck, very dark headed and backed with a very small bit of white at the base of the bill. The colouring of the head, back and breast were very similar with very little contrast between the three areas. The head looked oddly shaped but at the distance and the fact ducks can change head shape quite easily makes me put little faith in that. I would like to get a better look (why did it have to fly?) and ideally a picture or twelve. These ducks, strays from Europe and Asia, are known to hybiridize with scaups and in females it is tough to determine if this has happened. It's a sighting worth putting out there. Jamie's excited that we may have made a good discovery so here's hoping it can be confirmed. If so, it will be the third record for the checklist area.

[murraybrown]

Gord, it takes a good eye to spot a FEMALE Tufted Duck. Most people even overlook the males which are much, much, easier to pick out.
I can't look at a large flock of scaup or R.N. Ducks without scanning for the distinctive profile of the Tufted.
I've managed to see a couple of them but only after someone else did the hard work of finding them first! So good work on that and I hope you get to see it again.

[Dave]

Eyes peeled....

[Gord]

I wanted to get back to check on Sunday but did not get out to that end of the valley. We did check yesterday but no luck. There were considerably less divers in the ditch yesterday evening.

Murray, thanks. I only wish it stayed closer for better looks and that I could get some pictures. As it stands, cant say for certain. The way it goes sometimes. If I had time, I'd check some other diver hotspots such as Judson Lake, Mill Lake and Willband to name a few.