I went out today to see a (very rare in our area) Swan Goose which has been around for a while (in Hyogo, west of Kobe). That was successful. As were the Lesser White-fronted Goose nearby, and the Taiga Flycatcher (a first for me; much rarer than Red-breasted here in Japan).
Because of the New Year, I was, however, taking photos of anything, to kickstart my 2019 list.
And I thought this (attached photo) was just a Tufted Duck (of which there were quite a few on this pond). I have only the one picture. But when I looked on the larger computer screen, the green head made me think it might be a Tufted cross with Greater Scaup (of which there were none on the pond).
But looking closer, there were two features which stood out as anomalous in addition to the head being a different colour from the body.
Firstly, the nail at the end of the bill looks rather large, with a whiter than usual band at its rear. Ring-necked Duck seems from the photos in my books to have a larger black nail than related species.
Secondly, the white on the side of the body comes to an upward point at the shoulder. The only duck I can find in my books which has this feature is Ring-necked Duck.
Unfortunately, there isn't a visible ring around the top of the bill, although there is a small white cenre.
Anyway, I wonder if this might be a cross between Ring-billed and either Tufted Duck or Scaup. Or can straightforward Tufted look like this - they're very common in my area, and I would always expect the head to look darker than the back; I've never seen one with a green head.
And, of course, I've never seen Ring-billed, but all the photos in books and online show a purpleish head (but then Mallards often look purple not green).
Because of the New Year, I was, however, taking photos of anything, to kickstart my 2019 list.
And I thought this (attached photo) was just a Tufted Duck (of which there were quite a few on this pond). I have only the one picture. But when I looked on the larger computer screen, the green head made me think it might be a Tufted cross with Greater Scaup (of which there were none on the pond).
But looking closer, there were two features which stood out as anomalous in addition to the head being a different colour from the body.
Firstly, the nail at the end of the bill looks rather large, with a whiter than usual band at its rear. Ring-necked Duck seems from the photos in my books to have a larger black nail than related species.
Secondly, the white on the side of the body comes to an upward point at the shoulder. The only duck I can find in my books which has this feature is Ring-necked Duck.
Unfortunately, there isn't a visible ring around the top of the bill, although there is a small white cenre.
Anyway, I wonder if this might be a cross between Ring-billed and either Tufted Duck or Scaup. Or can straightforward Tufted look like this - they're very common in my area, and I would always expect the head to look darker than the back; I've never seen one with a green head.
And, of course, I've never seen Ring-billed, but all the photos in books and online show a purpleish head (but then Mallards often look purple not green).
