(Before I get to my strange sighting, I wanted to mention that I saw a
horned grebe at Medusa Marsh on Sunday and again today.)

Around 3:30 PM today, I was driving past the small marina in Bayview when  an
unusual scaup caught my eye.  I pulled over to the side of the road  to take
a better look.

The bird looked just like all the other male Lesser Scaup, but it had  a RED
BILL that seemed to have a lighter (possibly yellowish) tip to it.

I got my binoculars out and just as I was getting a better look at the bird
a Bayview police officer pulled up along side me, blocking my view.
Fortunately, he just stopped to see if I needed assistance and did not issue a  ticket
but unfortunately, by the time I moved my car into the marina's parking  lot
the bird was gone.

There were 25 or so scaup in the marina and probably 200 in the bay beyond
the breakwall.  Most of those birds were folded up sleeping so my odd bird  may
well have been among them.   Also present were a few Red-breasted  mergansers
and Ruddy Ducks.

When I got home, I searched online and found this link to a photo taken Mar
29, 2008, in Chicago.


_http://www.pbase.com/sjhuggins/image/94865456_
(http://www.pbase.com/sjhuggins/image/94865456)
The caption says "Note the male scaup with what appears to be a Red Bill
Tag!"
Clicking on the photo will show another picture of the bird.

His bird looks as if it has something red on its bill.  (Is  there such a
thing as a "bill tag?")
In the brief look I had at my bird, its bill seemed normal shaped, just red
in color, with a lighter tip.

Despite the oddness of this report, this is not an April Fool's  posting.  If
anyone has any information on this bird, or an  explanation of its bill
color,  I would really appreciate hearing from  you.

Sheryl Young
Sandusky






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