I was fishing in the Mad River this morning in Eastwood Metropark when I
spotted an odd dabbling duck:

Overall dark (black/dark brown) with a white throat and breast, larger than
nearby Mallards, with which it was not associating.  Did not see in flight.
 My first impression was of a mail Northern Pintail, but it was too dark
and way too large and bulky, without the white spur or any obvious pins in
the tail, so to speak.

Googling around revealed that female Black Scoter (too short of neck - this
wasn't a diving duck) and the domesticated Swedish Black were the only good
matches for the plumage pattern.  But I might be overlooking something.

The bird was seen on the Mad River, about 150 yards west (downstream) of
the Woodman Drive bridge and was still there at 10:45, when I had to leave.

Any ideas?

Blurry iPhone photos:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-D9lnJpr4uJ0/U-JMihhCkNI/AAAAAAAArxc/QGw3xdXv7mE/w645-h456-no/photo%2B%289%29.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DqUdsN7HgZY/U-JNI-zW4OI/AAAAAAAArxk/Si5rNCo1sbs/w958-h719-no/photo%2B%2810%29.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dAl61JVLrf4/U-JOc_JF9gI/AAAAAAAArx0/J1WeX8oS54U/w958-h719-no/photo%2B1%2B%286%29.JPG




--

Paul H. Dubuc,

Validation Consultant
(609) 356-9517 cell
(201) 222-2720 office
(800) 458-2634 fax

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