A couple of unidentified waterfowl from the Great Dismal Swamp (1 Viewer)

Terry O'Nolley · Apr 15, 2006

I think the first 2 are cormorants, but I can't tell which type - I lightened the second pic a lot and am thinking doble-crested.

The third pic might be a Wood Duck, but this is the only view I got of it - it made a couple of high pitched loud squeaks as it flushed.

Terry O'Nolley · Apr 15, 2006

Please - if you can confirm or reject the cormorants - fine. The Wood Duck, I'd love to have confirmed so I will at least have a photo of one....

lassa8 · Apr 16, 2006

Location?

lou salomon · Apr 16, 2006

the cormorant is a double crested. no real idea about the duck but i don't think it is wood duck (female) cause it should show a more conspicous white trailing edge to secondaries and a darker back. an anas-species imo.

Terry O'Nolley · Apr 16, 2006

lassa8 said:
Location?

The Great Dismal Swamp is a lowland federal wildlife refuge that lies across the eastern border of Virginia and North Carolina that begins only 20 miles or so inland but is very large.

Read up on it. It may give you an eco-tourist destination!

harr1y · Apr 16, 2006

Looking at the first picture ....i would say that with the wings being set way back like that and the general silhouette ..that you have yourself a loon species ...probably common or great northern diver as we call them over here..could the third pic possibly be a blue winged teal .. the trailing edge does look rather blue on my p.c.?

lassa8 · Apr 16, 2006

I can't turn the first photo into a Loon. I'll vote DC Cormorant for the first two (especially the second), but I have no clue about the duck.

The reason I asked about location was that I've never heard of the Great Dismal Swamp. It's always good to put a more general location for the birders around the world to have a better idea where you were at.

JANJ · Apr 16, 2006

Look at the rear, and the wing tip shape on the bird in first image. That should decide.

JanJ

AlexC · Apr 16, 2006

JanJ brought up the wing tip in pic 1, which is not pointed as it would be on a loon. Also, in pic 2, you can see that the bill ends with the slight downturned hook - a D-C Cormorant trait, and the bill is also not at enough of an upward angle to belong to a loon. So I'm gonna go with the majority and say D-C Cormorant for 1 and 2, unknown for 3.

prairiemerlin · Apr 16, 2006

Number 3 is definitly a Wood Duck. It is brownish overall, and has blue on the wing (female Wood Ducks have blue on the wing), and the clincher is the long tail. It is possible to ID Wood Ducks at great distances due to their long tails. Also, the fact that it seems to be headed towards the woods is another clue. Wood Ducks commonly make squeaky noises when they flush.

Terry O'Nolley · Apr 16, 2006

Brown Creeper said:
Number 3 is definitly a Wood Duck. It is brownish overall, and has blue on the wing (female Wood Ducks have blue on the wing), and the clincher is the long tail. It is possible to ID Wood Ducks at great distances due to their long tails. Also, the fact that it seems to be headed towards the woods is another clue. Wood Ducks commonly make squeaky noises when they flush.

Thank you - I've listened to some sound clips of Wood Ducks as they flushed and I', pretty certain that is what I saw. The birds (there were two) flushed up and into a dense forested area - but did not fly above the treetops as they entered the forested areas. I will be using this picture on my 2006 year list until I can get a better Wood Duck photo.

harr1y · Apr 17, 2006

from the fore-wing onward screams loon ...the wing says cormorant becuase it isnt pointed .. but unless i am going blind there is no hook or downward turn at the bill tip..plus the bird is rather bulbous headed and straight necked as opposed to a slight dip where a neck should be .. if you look at pic 1 there is wings then tail ..pic2 is wings rump then tail..plus pic 2 has a far broader wing

Terry O'Nolley · Apr 17, 2006

harr1y said:
from the fore-wing onward screams loon ...the wing says cormorant becuase it isnt pointed .. but unless i am going blind there is no hook or downward turn at the bill tip..plus the bird is rather bulbous headed and straight necked as opposed to a slight dip where a neck should be .. if you look at pic 1 there is wings then tail ..pic2 is wings rump then tail..plus pic 2 has a far broader wing

My apologies for poor focus. It might be self-hypnosis, but I see the downward dip of the bill in the second pic - although the necks are quite straight and short.....

harr1y · Apr 17, 2006

without even clicking on pic 1 and 2 even the thumbs suggest 2 totally different birds in silhouette..pic2 looks like a heavier bird..more barrel bellied..personally pic 1 screams elegance and sleekness the way a diver should be

Terry O'Nolley · Apr 17, 2006

harr1y said:
without even clicking on pic 1 and 2 even the thumbs suggest 2 totally different birds in silhouette..pic2 looks like a heavier bird..more barrel bellied

That's a bold call to make when pic 1 has the bird in a down wingbeat which obscures the belly...

harr1y · Apr 17, 2006

pic1 says elegance loon .. pic 2 says dumpy cormorant .. i stand corrected if i am wrong

affe22 · Apr 17, 2006

harr1y said:
pic1 says elegance loon .. pic 2 says dumpy cormorant .. i stand corrected if i am wrong

Pretty sure you are wrong. Both pics are of a cormorant. The hooked bill is clear in both and the body and wing shape are not correct for loon.

harr1y · Apr 17, 2006

okey dokey ..you live and learn :t:

JANJ · Apr 17, 2006

As mentioned earlier harr1y, take a look at the rear, the projecting feet are missing.

http://www.portlandbirdobs.btinternet.co.uk/bp_great_northern_diver_4_030504_290.jpg

JanJ

lockbreeze926 · Apr 18, 2006

If it's any consolation, Harry - pic 1 looks like a diver/loon to me.

The lack of feet is a bit worrying, though, must admit.

.......and it's quite a way from the sea.

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