A visit to area lakes this morning included Owen Park, Eden, Tomahawk, and
Susan, revealed a few interesting ducks, with the operative work being few.
Owen Lake was fairly desolate with only one Pied-Billed Grebe and about 20
Mallards. Lake Eden was practically duckless but thankfully a pair of Hooder
Mergansers were paddling around. Then on to Lake Tomahawk where the only thing
of real interest was what I think was a female Greater Scaup. From a distance
the white face marking at the base of the bill made me think of Blue-winged
Teal but closer examination reveal the face marking was not crescent shaped nor
was a white hip-patch present. I'm going with a female Greater Scaup due to
the crown of the head more forward as well as the side feathers looking correct
for female Greater Scaup. However I was surprised at the beak appearing as
dark as it was. I finished the morning at Lake Susan in Montreat. One
Mandarin Duck was paddling around showing off its stunningly ornate plumage.
If you have never seen of these beauties you should drive up there. Lastly
there was another one Hooded Merganser at Lake Susan, this one being a female.
Although the diversity was lacking at these lakes it was a nice morning. A few
photos are attached.
Alan LenkAsheville
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HoodMeganserPairLkEden.jpg
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GreaterScaupFemLkTomahawk.jpg
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GreatScuapFemLkTomahawk.jpg
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MandarinDuckLkSusan©.jpg
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HoodedMerganserFemLkSusan.jpg
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