ID-FRONTIERS for February 13-19, 2000

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Date   Time   Michigan Aythya   James H. Barton   Sun, 13 Feb 2000   7:48am   Re: Yellow-legged Gull !?!   Robert H. Lewis   Sun, 13 Feb 2000   8:04am   Re: Michigan Aythya   Allen T Chartier    Sun, 13 Feb 2000   8:51am   Re: Michigan Aythya   Allen T Chartier    Sun, 13 Feb 2000   9:10am   Re: Michigan Aythya   ian paulsen    Sun, 13 Feb 2000   11:12am   CASW subspecies   Glenda Slessor    Sun, 13 Feb 2000   2:07pm   Tufted Ducks   paullarkin    Sun, 13 Feb 2000   3:25pm   The Aythya duck   Ricard Gutierrez    Sun, 13 Feb 2000   3:42pm   hybrid Tufted ..fuligula.. x Ring-necked ..collaris..   James H. Barton   Sun, 13 Feb 2000   4:11pm   Llobregat Delta Nature Reserves   John L. Saba   Sun, 13 Feb 2000   4:58pm   Llobregat Delta Nature Reserves   John L. Saba   Sun, 13 Feb 2000   5:04pm   More on the Yellow-legged Gull !?!   Dave DeReamus    Sun, 13 Feb 2000   11:47pm   Re: hybrid Tufted ..fuligula.. x Ring-necked ..collaris..   Nick Lethaby    Mon, 14 Feb 2000   10:54am   That Michigan duck again!   paullarkin    Mon, 14 Feb 2000   3:51pm   Yukon Iceland Gull wannabee   Cameron Eckert    Mon, 14 Feb 2000   5:42pm   Field Notes on MN Tufted Duck from 2/13/00   Terence P. Brashear   Tue, 15 Feb 2000   3:34pm   Mystery nighthawk and duck.   Joseph Morlan    Tue, 15 Feb 2000   5:13pm   More on hybrid Aythya [Fwd: [AVIMONDE] Re: [ORNITHO] Toujours des fuligules...]   James H. Barton   Tue, 15 Feb 2000   5:16pm   Re: Mystery nighthawk and duck.   Joseph Morlan    Tue, 15 Feb 2000   5:29pm   More Tufty duck   Allen T Chartier    Wed, 16 Feb 2000   5:43pm   Tullytown Dump Hours?   Dave DeReamus    Fri, 18 Feb 2000   3:06am   Tullytown Dump Responses   Dave DeReamus    Sat, 19 Feb 2000   12:47am   Listowner comment   Beth and Will Russel   Sat, 19 Feb 2000   7:44am

To use email addresses replace '(AT)' with '@'. This is done to confuse the spam 'bots.

[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Michigan Aythya
From: "James H. Barton" <redwing1986(AT)MEDIAONE.NET>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 7:48am

    Friends--Michael Retter nominates a hybird Tufted Duck ..fuligula..
x scaup sp. hybrid for the Michican bird.  I've received two similar
nominations privately.  I've been arguing privately for Ring-necked Duck
..collaris.. x  (Greater) Scaup .. marila.., with collaris contributing
the head  and bill shape and the dark back, and with marila contributing
the bill coloration, perhaps the side panel, and, most importantly, the
very long wing stripe extending well into the primaries.

    Of course, either scaup could contribute vermiculations to the back,
which Michael believes he may be seeing.  I just can't tell.

    In a private message, one of my correspondents says that the
projection at the rear of the head of the Michigan bird is typical of
collaris x fuligula hybrids.  But I'm questioning whether such hybrids
would show the very extensive wing stripe of Michigan.

    To me, the affinis/collaris/fuligula/marila hybrids present a
fascinating puzzle and a very enjoyable challenge.   I believe we have a
lot to learn about them, and I hope that subscribers will contribute  to
our knowledge  from their experience.

    Yours,

    Jim Barton
    redwing1986(AT)mediaone.net
    Cambridge, MA


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Re: Yellow-legged Gull !?!
From: "Robert H. Lewis" <lewis(AT)bway.net>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 8:04am

Dave DeReamus wrote:
>
> To ID Frontiers,
> ......
> Jason Horn, Devich Farbotnik, and I had a gull that we all believe to be an
> adult winter YELLOW-LEGGED GULL along the Delaware River just below the
> Tullytown landfill in Bucks County.  ......
>
> The bird was originally found by Jason while he was attempting to count the
> number of Lesser Black-backeds.  While scanning through one the larger
> groups of gulls, he noticed one that had a mantle color different from all
> the rest.  He pointed it out to us, and the following is what we observed:
>
> While reading this, keep in mind that while we were studying this bird, the
> same field of view contained Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed,
> Herring, and Ring-billed Gulls that we could use for comparison-----a big
> help.
>
> 1) The bird was practically the same size as the Herring Gulls around it.
> 2) The bird's mantle was noticeably darker than the Herrings' (the thing
> that made Jason notice it in the first place), yet it was nowhere near the
> darker shade of the Lesser Black-backeds'.
> 3) The legs were yellow (they appeared a bright yellow before the sky
> clouded over).
> 4) The head was almost entirely white except for a small area around the
> eye.
> 5) The head also appeared "flat-looking", creating a peak at the back of the
> head. This peaked area somewhat reminded me of the shape of a Caspian Tern's
> head.
> 6) The white spots on the primaries looked very close to that on the
> Herrings and not anything like the Lesser Black-backeds.
> 7) The bill was yellow with a red gony spot, but more than that was tough to
> determine due to the distance that we were from the bird (about 200 yards).

  Sounds pretty good, but there a few more things to look for in YLGU:

(1) Trailing edge of underwing secondaries in flight should contrast
with rest of underwing (darker gray), and be a bit darker than Herring.

(2) Black on primaries should be more extensive than Herring, often
forming almost Kittiwake-like pattern.

(3) Bill usually blunter than Herring.

(4) Red orbital ring.

(5) Often have a long-legged look.

  You might want to have a look at these pages on my gull site:

http://www.fordham.edu/lewis/birds/Longport/longport.html
http://www.bway.net/~lewis/birds/Portugal/port.html

and links:

http://www.nrossiter.supanet.com/ylg/index.htm
http://www.cs.mun.ca/~dave/ylgu.html

  As to what else it could be?  Many will say it's a hybrid, perhaps a
backcross HEGU X (LBBG X HEGU), or possibly even a very pale Lesser.

Bob Lewis
Sleepy Hollow NY


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Re: Michigan Aythya
From: Allen T Chartier <amazilia(AT)JUNO.COM>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 8:51am

Birders,

On Sun, 13 Feb 2000 James H. Barton wrote:

> In a private message, one of my correspondents says that the
> projection at the rear of the head of the Michigan bird is typical
> of collaris x fuligula hybrids.  But I'm questioning whether such
> hybrids would show the very extensive wing stripe of Michigan.

This is definitely a good question.  But, a better question is whether a
collaris X fuligula hybrid has ever been seen anywhere!!!!  Madge & Burn
list this combination as hypothetical, so guessing on the appearance of
such a hybrid would seem to be pure speculation.  Unless, of course,
those proposing such a hybrid can point us to the literature documenting
the appearance of this combination.

Allen Chartier
1442 West River Park Drive
Inkster, MI  48141
amazilia(AT)juno.com


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Re: Michigan Aythya
From: Allen T Chartier <amazilia(AT)JUNO.COM>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 9:10am

Birders,

Sorry for the second message.  I meant to post this with my previous
reply.

On Sun, 13 Feb 2000 James H. Barton wrote:

> I've been arguing privately for Ring-necked
> Duck ..collaris.. x  (Greater) Scaup .. marila.., with collaris
> contributing the head  and bill shape and the dark back, and with
marila
> contributing the bill coloration, perhaps the side panel, and, most
importantly,
> the very long wing stripe extending well into the primaries.

The wing stripe of Greater Scaup is not as extensive as that of Tufted
Duck.  The intense white (both webs) of the wing stripe only extends onto
about the inner 5-6 primaries on Greater Scaup, then continuing onto 2-3
more primaries as a much more subdued dirty white possibly only on the
inner webs, and little or no white on the outer 1-2 primaries.  Tufted
Ducks have intense white much farther out on the primaries, with none of
the reduction in tone that can be seen in Greater Scaup (many standard
field guides illustrate this quite well).  I believe the Michigan bird
shows a wing stripe that is much more like a Tufted Duck than a Greater
Scaup (I might even say "classic" for Tufted).  Other features on the
bird, however, seem inconsistent with Tufted based on my own experience
and on what is available in the literature.

Allen Chartier
1442 West River Park Drive
Inkster, MI  48141
amazilia(AT)juno.com


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Re: Michigan Aythya
From: ian paulsen <ipaulsen(AT)LINKNET.KITSAP.LIB.WA.US>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 11:12am

HI James et al.:
  For more info. on Aythya hybrids try looking at: "Gillham, Harrison &
Harrison. 1966. A study of certain Aythya hybrids. The Wildfowl Trust 17th
Annual Report:49-65."
Sincerely

Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen
Bainbridge Is., WA, USA
ipaulsen(AT)linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us
"Rallidae all the way"


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: CASW subspecies
From: Glenda Slessor <Glenda_Slessor(AT)CHAT.HALTONBE.ON.CA>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 2:07pm

Dick Veit notes that some of the Cape May Cave Swallows last fall appeared
to have buffy flanks while others appeared to have grey flanks.

I wonder if two things are at work here.  We noticed with the in-hand
specimen that these apparent colours (flank, forehead, rump) varied
depending upon whether it was looked at in bright daylight or in shade or
artificial light.  Perhaps some of the differences observers have noticed
pertain to this.

Second, I wonder if HY birds could have these buffy tips to the grey flank
feathers and that these are absent on AHY birds?  Pyle does not say
anything about this but perhaps it could be tested by examination in the
field and in specimens of known age.

None of this, in the short run, makes field identification of subspecies
easier (possible?).

Bob Curry
Burlington, On
e-mail: slessorg(AT)haltonbe.on.ca


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Tufted Ducks
From: paullarkin <paullarkin(AT)PGEN.NET>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 3:25pm

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----

What Ho Chaps.

For anyone on the other side of the Atlantic interested in Tufties I =
would recommend Tufted Ducks in a Royal Park by Eric Gillham. It can =
probably be purchased from Subbuteo Books Sales(AT)subooks.demon.co.uk It =
is full of detail about behaviour as well as descriptions of variants in =
plumage etc. As for the Michigan bird I am sure it is not a Tufted Duck. =
The closest I have seen to it was in April '99. That was a =
Ring-neckedXTufted, unlikely maybe on your side so the Lesser Scaup =
suggestion seems more likely. However the descriptions of Lesser and =
Greater ScaupXRing-necked hybrids in Eric Gillham's monograph Hybrid =
Ducks do not seem right for the Michigan bird but these things are very =
variable. Incidentally Eric Gillham is always interested to receive =
reports of hybrid ducks as he has studied them for many years and is =
usually able to come to some firm conclusions about them. He is not on =
e-mail but his postal address is

Mr E.H. Gillham,
90 Church Road
West Row
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP28 8PF
UK

Cheers
Paul

----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: The Aythya duck
From: Ricard Gutierrez <GUTARB(AT)santandersupernet.com>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 3:42pm

From my point of view this bird cannot be accepted as a pure Aythya
fuligula. At first sight, I found a couple, perhaps three things that do not
fit the species:1) head shape, which shows a peaked crown in this bird, a
feature never found in this species but typical of A.collaris (see the photo
near to some Ring-billeds); 2) bill length which, judging from images posted
in the net seem too long for the species and 3) (and this is rather more
subtile) flank pattern which is rather odd for even a 1st year male.
We have a small overwintering population of the species here in the reserve
I manage in NE Spain, so numbers I see every day are only tens, not as in C
or N Europe. Curiously, two weeks ago we had an immature tufted duck which
was injured, but I took no pictures. I think that the shape and characters
mentioned above are enough, for me, to say that there is something wrong
with the bird to be a pure fuligula. Thus, if this would be a record
submitted to our RC I would vote no, as it is not 100% sure the species
proposed.
However, there is certainly a number of fuligula characters in the bird
(e.g. tuft) which makes me confident in calling this an hybrid. Both the
guide from K.Mullarney, L.Svensson, D.Zetterström and P.J. Grant depict some
of these hybrid Aythya and the book from Gillham (Hybrid ducks) also mention
lots of variations in crossings amongst the different Aythya species. As the
only experience I have in this field is that from biliography, I then leave
the subject here.
And excuse the bad redaction but I guess you have understood what I meant.

Ricard Gutierrez
Director Llobregat Delta Nature Reserves
Spanish Rarities Committee member
13.2.2000

Our website has moved!:
http:///www.gencat.es/mediamb/rndelta


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: hybrid Tufted ..fuligula.. x Ring-necked
         ..collaris..
From: "James H. Barton" <redwing1986(AT)MEDIAONE.NET>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 4:11pm

    Allen and friends.   Please see Harris, Tucker and Vinicombe >>The
MacMillan Field Guide to Bird Identification<< 1993e, which presents an
adult male collaris x fuligula hybrid at the top of page 45.

    Such hybrids might not be known in the wild, but yet be known in
collections and therefore be considered as hypothetical in the wild.
Conceivably, such a cross could escape as easily from a collection in
the U.S. as from a collection in the U.K.

    Yours,

    Jim Barton
    redwing1986(AT)mediaone.net
    Cambridge, MA


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Llobregat Delta Nature Reserves
From: "John L. Saba" <sabaj(AT)theriver.com>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 4:58pm

The recent post by Ricard Gutierrez, Director of the Llobregat Delta Nature
Reserves, had a minor typo in the URL for their excellent website (an extra
"/" crept in). Here's the corrected URL:

http://www.gencat.es/mediamb/rndelta

The Llobregat Delta Nature Reserves is a beautiful spot in NE Spain. The web
page is written in Spanish and Basque, with some French, English, and
Italian, also. Birds are identified with Latin names. Enjoy!

---
John L. Saba
sabaj(AT)theriver.com
http://personal.riverusers.com/~sabaj/
(520) 327-3643
Tucson, Arizona  USA
Birding is a Grand Adventure!


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Llobregat Delta Nature Reserves
From: "John L. Saba" <sabaj(AT)theriver.com>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 5:04pm

<Correction>

The recent post by Ricard Gutierrez, Director of the Llobregat Delta Nature
Reserves, had a minor typo in the URL for their excellent website (an extra
"/" crept in). Here's the corrected URL:

http://www.gencat.es/mediamb/rndelta

The Llobregat Delta Nature Reserves is a beautiful spot in NE Spain. The web
page is written in Spanish and Catalan, with some French, English, and
Italian, also. Birds are identified with Latin names. Enjoy!

Please excuse my poor linguistic background, confusing Catalan and Basque!

---
John L. Saba
sabaj(AT)theriver.com
http://personal.riverusers.com/~sabaj/
(520) 327-3643
Tucson, Arizona  USA
Birding is a Grand Adventure!


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: More on the Yellow-legged Gull !?!
From: Dave DeReamus <becard(AT)FAST.NET>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 11:47pm

Hi Jim and all,

Thanks for your responses and additional information on our probable
Yellow-legged Gull sighting.  Several birders have privately posted
questions to me as to whether we saw certain field marks that would further
nail down the ID.  So, I figured that I'd post this to the list so that
everyone knows the situation:

Unfortunately, the river was between us and the bird, and we were afraid
that we might lose sight of it while trying to find a better access point.
We could only hope that the bird would move closer to us.  It didn't.

As it turned out, the entire area was surrounded by fenced-off industrial
sites, so there weren't any other access points that would have gotten us
closer (which made us feel a little better about our decision to just stay
put and study it).  Unfortunately, this made checking out the color of the
orbital ring impossible.  And, also due to the distance, it was difficult to
study the shape and length of the bill.  We were only able to roughly
compare it to the bills of the other gulls that surrounded it.

It was also unfortunate that we lost the bird when the entire group that it
was with took
off and swirled through each other.  So, we never got a chance to study it
in flight.

It did seem to have a longer-legged look at times, but this certainly wasn't
very obvious.

As I mentioned, the mantle was only a few shades darker than the Herrings,
but was nowhere near the lightest shade of Lessers that were around it.  The
best way that I know to explain this is that it was much closer to
California than it was to a Lesser.

I spent most of the night checking out websites and some of the photos
looked exactly like what we saw and others were close.  The one site had a
"gray shade" chart which seemed to be right on with the mantle color that we
saw.  Of course, as you know,
comparing shades of gray creates a "gray area" <grin>.

I know the above factors probably won't help the sighting's acceptability,
but the situation (distance to the bird) was simply out of our control.  If
only. . . . . . .

Thanks again for the responses and expert information.  If nothing else,
I'll be just a little smarter about what to concentrate on if I ever see
another possible Yellow-legged.

Good birding,

Dave DeReamus
Compiler of the 'Eastern PA Birdline'
Easton, PA
becard(AT)fast.net


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Re: hybrid Tufted ..fuligula.. x Ring-necked
         ..collaris..
From: Nick Lethaby <nickl(AT)COWARE.COM>
Date: 14 Feb 2000 10:54am

At 06:10 PM 2/13/00 -0500, James H. Barton wrote:
>     Allen and friends.   Please see Harris, Tucker and Vinicombe >>The
>MacMillan Field Guide to Bird Identification<< 1993e, which presents an
>adult male collaris x fuligula hybrid at the top of page 45.
>
>     Such hybrids might not be known in the wild,

The pictures in the Macmillan guide are based on 1-2 birds seen at Chew
Valley Lake near Bristol in Great Britain back in the early-mid  '80s
(possibly late 70's). I saw one of these birds while searching fruitlessly
for the 2-3 real Ring-necked Ducks that were there. Keith Vinicombe, the
co-author, of the book birds Chew Valley Lake regularly and probably found
the bird in the first place.

Nick

>  but yet be known in
>collections and therefore be considered as hypothetical in the wild.
>Conceivably, such a cross could escape as easily from a collection in
>the U.S. as from a collection in the U.K.
>
>     Yours,
>
>     Jim Barton
>     redwing1986(AT)mediaone.net
>     Cambridge, MA

Nick Lethaby
Technical Marketing Manager
CoWare, Inc.
Tel: 408 845 7646
E-mail: nickl(AT)coware.com


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: That Michigan duck again!
From: paullarkin <paullarkin(AT)PGEN.NET>
Date: 14 Feb 2000 3:51pm

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----

What Ho Chaps,

Gillham quotes four collaris x fuligula hybrids, all males. This is a =
selective quote from item 136 in his book Hybrid Ducks. "Though having =
characteristics intermediate between the parent species this hybrid is =
nearer a Ring-necked duck in head shape, bill size and plumage. All four =
birds have a peaked crown, short crest, and a broad black bill tip =
bordered behind by a prominent white band. Three of the four have a =
white vertical stripe between flank and breast similar to that in drake =
collaris. Three have a fine white line surrounding or partially around =
the base of the bill which, in only two, is slightly darker grey than =
that of male Tufted. The fourth has a darker grey bill without any white =
at the base. In three the flanks are finely vermiculated with grey but =
there is some white bordering the breast in only two of them. =
Descriptions of the wing bar are available for two males. A white stripe =
crosses the entire length of the primaries and secondaries in one and in =
the other the white is confined to the secondaries.

I can add my own experience of a bird in Kent UK in April 1999. This had =
a perfect Collaris bill pattern, The flanks were similar to the Michigan =
bird but with a hint of white on the fore flanks the head shape was =
similar to the Michigan bird. The whole bird bore an uncanny =
resembllance to a collaris coming out of eclipse. The wing stripe =
however was white and confined to the secondaries.

My suggestion that collaris X fuligula is unlikely  stems only from the =
fact that collaris encounters with fuligula are probably less likely =
than collaris with affinis (or marila) on your side. On our side I =
believe we get collarisxfuligula more often as a lot of our collaris are =
drakes (probably due to escapes) and they more activly seek a mate than =
females ie a drake tufty has lots of duck tufties to choose from why =
pick a duck collaris a drake collaris does not have that choice. The =
nail of the bill on the Michigan bird looks more like affinis to me one =
might assume Tuftyxmarila woulds have more black. Having said that as we =
know from the Brewers Duck hybrids may not always show patterns that we =
expect so I am not sure that even the extensive wing stripe would rule =
out affinis. Then of course there are back crosses........

Cheers
Paul
ps I am not Eric Gillham's publicity agent-honest!!!!!

----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Yukon Iceland Gull wannabee
From: Cameron Eckert <cameron.eckert(AT)GOV.YK.CA>
Date: 14 Feb 2000 5:42pm

Hi All,

I photographed this Iceland Gull wannabee in Whitehorse in November, 1999.

http://www.yukonweb.com/community/ybc/gullery.html#ICGU

A few features side against Iceland Gull, and suggest a possible hybrid.
But hybrid what? It looks nothing like the usual assortment of hybrids (e.g
HERG x GLGU x GWGU etc) that we see in our area. I'm interested to hear
other ideas about this gull.

Regards,

Cameron Eckert
Whitehorse, Yukon


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Field Notes on MN Tufted Duck from 2/13/00
From: "Terence P. Brashear" <terence.p.brashear(AT)SYNTEGRA.COM>
Date: 15 Feb 2000 3:34pm

Hi

I received a number of private responses on my post regarding the Tufted
Duck being seen in Minnesota.  The picture that is posted is a little
deceiving and is almost a month old.  I went to look at the bird on Sunday,
February 13, 2000.  I ran into a number of other birders viewing the bird.
The first thing I have to say about this bird is that is has changed in
appearance pretty dramatically since the first time I viewed in on January
1, 2000. I took field notes while viewing the bird and I asked one of the
other observers to send me his notes too. Below are the combined notes
which I hope will aid those familiar with Tufted Duck plumage as to whether
this is a female or sub-adult male:

BILL- Black tipped, with the black extending over each side of the nail.
Immediately behind the black area, a small edge of clean pale blue that
extended back along the mandible edge. Top of the upper
mandible was darker gray. The effect was like this darker gray was a
transparent tone washed over the blue-gray which remained visible beneath.
Nostril was black.

HEAD- Base of the bill showed much less white than when first seen - on
January 1, 2000 it was almost
like a white patch you would see on a female scaup. It was
limited to areas only at the base of the upper mandible, and was flecked with
dark brown. The face, crown and rest of the head were a rich dark brown. In
direct sunlight there might have been a hint of iridescence. Eye was a clean
yellow. Tuft was much reduced and limited to a few feathers - feather wear
possibly.
Would occasionally raise its crown feathers.

BACK/MANTLE- Dark gray brown in color and not as richly toned as the head.
Back edge of the scapulars edged with more of a rufous tone (were these the
tertials?).

WINGS- Bird preened and stretched its wings showing both upper and under
surfaces. The upper wing coverts were dark gray brown with a white wing bar
extending through the secondaries into the primaries. Similar to Lesser Scaup
with bright white on the secondaries and more gray through the primaries.
There was a darker trailing edge. The underwing was white with pale gray
secondaries gradually getting darker in the primaries. This was a very pale
gray, nearly white, becoming a light mid-toned gray. The darker trailing edge
was not seen due to the angle it was seen.

TAIL- Upper and under surfaces dark gray brown like the back.

FLANKS- Much diminished from the distinct panel seen on 1/1. No longer had
the striped effect noted previously. Gray brown feathers seemed darker and
edged slightly buffy. White from belly "bled" into the flanks at water level,
but did not extend higher onto the sides.

BREAST- Dark brown, but lighter and more rufous toned than the head.

BELLY- White

UNDERTAIL COVERTS- Seemed darker than when first observed on 1/1. From the
back view, the effect was almost "spotted". Coloration was darker and more
mottled. When first observed the coloration was more white.

LEGS- Dark gray, nearly black.

From my observations on Sunday I would say that this bird is becoming more
drab in appearance which is contrary to what I would expect of a sub-adult
male.

Please feel free to comment to the list or privately.

Thanks in advance.

Terence P. Brashear
Hennepin County, MN
terence.p.brashear(AT)syntegra.com


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Mystery nighthawk and duck.
From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan(AT)CCSF.CC.CA.US>
Date: 15 Feb 2000 5:13pm

ID Frontiers,

I have updated my web site with two new mystery birds, a nighthawk and
a controversial duck.  The nighthawk has generated considerable
discussion but I was hoping for more ideas on the duck.  Comparing it
to the "Brewer's Duck" on the photo gallery does not seem to me to be
a very good match. Any further ideas? At this point I'm not at all
sure what this bird is.  Help!

Answers to last month's mystery tanager and sparrow have been posted.
Recent additions to the photo gallery include the Iceland Gull from
Washington State (contributed by Ruth Sullivan).  Thanks to all who
provided additional December Bobolink records.  Are these all late
migrants or have any been documented into January or later?

The URL is

        http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/

Follow the link to "California Birding."

Enjoy!

--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:jmorlan(AT)ccsf.cc.ca.us
Birding Classes begin Feb 8 in SF: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: More on hybrid Aythya [Fwd: [AVIMONDE] Re:
         [ORNITHO] Toujours des fuligules...]
From: "James H. Barton" <redwing1986(AT)MEDIAONE.NET>
Date: 15 Feb 2000 5:16pm

    Friends--Serge Dumont has made a very considerable study of hybrids.  I
am cross-posting one of  his latest messages because of our recent discusssion
of the Michigan Aythya.

    Yours,

    Jim Barton
    redwing1986(AT)mediaone.net
    Cambridge, MA

Serge Dumont wrote:

> Bonjour,
>
> l'hybride Fuligule milouinan (Aythya marila) X Petit Fuligule (Aythya
> affinis) est peu connu. Seuls deux individus sont connus avec une
> certitude suffisante. Pour les autres hybrides je repondrai plus tard.
>
> Voici un extrait du livre "Hybrid Ducks" concernant cet hybride... je ne
> traduirai pas afin d'eviter les erreurs;
>
> "...Delacour writes that he was sent a male and female of this cross which
> were exactly intermediate between the parent species and proved to be
> fertile.  Plumage details and precise differences between this cross and
> the Pacific Scaup, Aythya marila mariloides, would be useful when further
> examples of Greater Scaup x Lesser Scaup are recorded.
>
> In 1992 and 1993 we were able to study and photograph two captive males of
> the Pacific Scaup which had been hatched from eggs taken in Alaska. They
> had several characteristics pointing in intermediacy between marila and
> affinis, both of which were available for comparison.
>
> These male Pacific Scaup were similar to a Lesser Scaup in size and build
> with a smaller and more rounded head than that of marila. In April the
> head was distinctly peaked in the centre and the upperparts lacked any
> white. The latter looked dusky grey, due to close blackish-grey
> vermiculations on a pale grey ground colour. These vermiculations were
> much narrower than those of either marila or affinis, and tended to
> produce a rather smooth-looking dusky-grey appearance. This part of the
> body was definitely not boldly vermiculated as described by Cramp and
> Simmons (1977)"
>
> References,
>
> 1) Cramp, S. & Simmons, K.E.L. eds 1977. The Birds of the Western
> Palearctic. Vol. 1 Oxford University Press, Oxford.
>
> 2) Delacour, J. 1959. The Waterfowl of the World, vol. 3. County Life Ltd.
> London
>
> 3) Gillham, E. & Gillham, B. 1996. Hybrid Ducks. A contribution towards an
> inventory. ISBN 0 9511556 0 2
>
> En esperant que ces infos vous aideront,
>
>
> Salutations,
>
> Serge Dumont
> Lachine, Quebec
> dumontse(AT)openface.ca


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Re: Mystery nighthawk and duck.
From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan(AT)CCSF.CC.CA.US>
Date: 15 Feb 2000 5:29pm

On Tue, 15 Feb 2000 16:13:33 -0800, Joseph Morlan
<jmorlan(AT)ccsf.cc.ca.us> wrote:

>The URL is
>
>        http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/
>
>Follow the link to "California Birding."
>
>Enjoy!

Sorry folks.  The link should be:

        http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/

--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:jmorlan(AT)ccsf.cc.ca.us
Birding Classes begin Feb 8 in SF: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: More Tufty duck
From: Allen T Chartier <amazilia(AT)JUNO.COM>
Date: 16 Feb 2000 5:43pm

Birders,

If you haven't tired of looking at the Michigan Aythya duck, I have
posted two more (final?) photos on the MBRC website for possible
additional insight.

Again, go to:  http://www.umd.umich.edu/dept/rouge_river/Recentr.htm

Allen Chartier
1442 West River Park Drive
Inkster, MI  48141
amazilia(AT)juno.com


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Tullytown Dump Hours?
From: Dave DeReamus <becard(AT)FAST.NET>
Date: 18 Feb 2000 3:06am

To ID-Frontiers,

I apologize for asking this on a format that's only supposed to deal with ID
information; but I thought that if anyone would know the following
questions, it would be you Larophiles that are out there.  So here it goes:

Does anyone know the Tullytown, PA landfill's operating hours during this
holiday weekend?  I have heard that it operates on Saturday mornings, but
not on Sundays.  Is this the case?  And, since Monday is a holiday, will it
be operating then?  I know our garbagemen (sorry-----household waste
engineers) don't have Monday off.

I'm considering going down on Saturday IF the weather cooperates and/or
possibly Monday.  Please E-mail me privately with any information you may
have.  Thanks in advance.

Good birding,

Dave DeReamus
Compiler of the 'Eastern PA Birdline'
Easton, PA
becard(AT)fast.net


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Tullytown Dump Responses
From: Dave DeReamus <becard(AT)FAST.NET>
Date: 19 Feb 2000 12:47am

Hi again,

Thanks to Adrian Binns, Patricia Rossi, and Evan Obercian for the posts on
the landfill's active hours for this coming weekend.  Also thanks to the
list for allowing its use to get the information.

FYI, the responses follow:

Good birding,

Dave DeReamus
becard(AT)fast.net
________________________

Dave,

The Tullytown dump (215) 736-9400 IS OPEN this monday.

Hours are :
            6AM-5PM  Monday - Friday
            6AM-12PM  Saturday  ( 1/2 day)
            Closed on Sunday

30+ people spent Thursday AM at Florence on the Great Yellow-legged Gull
Watch, without any luck, but we did have good numbers of the supporting
cast; Glaucous, Iceland and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Adrian Binns
Langhorne, Bucks Co
wildlifegd(AT)aol.com
________________________

Greetings!

I called  Tullytown Landfill (1-800-778-9797) and the operator there said it
was open on to the public on Saturdays (she thinks the hours are 6am til
noon).  They are open on Monday.  If one section of the landfill is closed
the other will be open.  She then referred me to Customer service but all I
got was the answering machine.  I left a message.  If I get a call back I'll
let you know - I did want to verify the info as I am not familiar with the
layout of the property.

Patricia Rossi
Levittown, PA  Lower Bucks County
circuscyan(AT)aol.com
__________________________

I'm assuming we're talking about the same dump - we call it Florence on this
side of the river (just South of Trenton, right?).  If so, this is indeed
the case.  Saturday is excellent bc all the birds are feeding in the AM and
then kind of loaf around the rest of the day on the river.  Its quite a
sight.  I've not been on Sundays but I gather its not nearly as productive -
the gulls probably spread out along the river and I'm sure some go into
Delaware Bay for the day (it's their day off, too).

Good gulling,

Evan Obercian
Tewksbury, NJ
ewilsono(AT)hotmail.com


[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: Listowner comment
From: Beth and Will Russell <russell(AT)RTD.COM>
Date: 19 Feb 2000 7:44am

Posts such as the ones associated with the Tulleytown dump hours should
not use ID-Frontiers as a distribution vehicle.  Subscribers to this
list who feel they have information unrelated to identification or
distribution that is nonetheless of general interest (for example job
availability, conservation issues or directions to a very interesting
bird) may make a single descriptive post to the list.  All responses
should be directed to the poster and not ID-Frontiers, and any
subsequent exchange should not be routed through the list.

Thanks.

Will Russell
russell(AT)rtd.com