Utterly chagrined that I missed the Tufted Duck at the yacht club yesterday, I stopped back this morning for a longer/closer look. Sure enough, it WAS feeding with the small aythya flock just off the swim dock. In addition, I had a close-in group of 7 Long-tailed Ducks and a distant group of 21 Red-necked Grebes plus four Horned Grebes.
The most curious sighting was the upside-down carcass of what appeared to be a Red-breasted Merganser floating offshore. A first year Greater Black-backed Gull was sitting with it on the water, occasionally pecking at it, trying to find a way in. At one point it reached over, grabbed the duck by the bill, and gave it a shake. In the inner harbor was a pair of Common Goldeneye. The female swam behind the male with her neck outstretched and chin flat on the water. He led her in a couple of broad circles before quickly turning along side and mounting her. Copulation lasted a few seconds, and he was off. She rose up, shook herself, and swam off in the other direction. I assumed, anyway, that they were copulating. Though it does seem early in the season. Bob McGuire -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
