Greetings birders - 

Apologies if the following information is droll to some folks...

...but Denny McDonnell's post brings to light some super-cool bird-quiz-worthy photos: his great shots from East 72nd. As an ID-related 'heads up', it's perhaps worth pointing out that Denny has captured a fantastic side-by-side comparison between adult males of both Lesser (multiple) and (single) Greater Scaup.

Again, as posted, here's Denny's link to his gallery page:



http://www.pbase.com/tileman533/2010&page=8


On this page: 

Scaup-wise, the first image to see is: "DUD_6824" (bottom row, second from the right).
Three Redhead at the top of the image, two male scaup at the bottom. Who's Lesser? The top scaup. Greater is the bottom scaup. Note the male Greater Scaup's gleaming white sides, very ROUNDED HEAD
(Lesser's is peaked) and honking bill. A field mark that is not 100% accurate in
every instance, but is very well-shown here in combination with other
characters is the deep green sheen to the head of the Greater. The adult male Lesser featured here has a very dark, slight purplish-gray sheen to the head. (See next photo for better view of this field mark). 

Next, see the following image to the right, named "DUD_6829" 

In this image you'll see a great mix of Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, and a single female Hooded Merganser. In the CENTER, slight-right, you'll find three adult male scaup in triangular form...with an adult male Lesser head-up facing right, another adult Lesser immediately to his right with head-tucked, and, in front of those two, an adult male Greater Scaup. (For reference, "oddball" female Hooded Merganser is immediately right of this trio). 

Note the male Greater Scaup's gleaming white sides, very ROUNDED HEAD (all other adult scaup in this photo are Lesser, compare their peaked heads), and note the Greater's heavier bill. A field mark that is not 100% accurate in every instance, but is very well-shown here * in combination with other characters* is the deep green sheen to the head of the Greater, as compared to the deep purple sheen of the surrounding adult male Lessers. Note again, however, that the key outstanding feature for in-field use is the shape of the head/crown area. 


cheers
Jen

Akron, Ohio
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> At 72nd st today mid-afternoon I wasn't able to locate the hoodie-goldeneye cross that had been there yesterday and earlier today...nothing new that hadn't been reported  already.  At Lakeview it was quiet but for a red tailed hawk that posed for some sitting and flight shots...one Carolina wren and dark-eyed junco...about 5 mallards by the small circle of open water on the lake behind Wade chapel.
> 
> Some photos from the last few days on the lakefront plus a couple hawk flight shots here:
> http://www.pbase.com/tileman533/2010&page=8   (and on the next page).
> 
> Denny McDonnell
> Euclid

                                          
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