We just got back from seeing a BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK, just SW of
Winchester. It is at a farm that is a Farm-related B&B called Hedgebrook
Farm (www.theherdsinn.com - 688 Shady Elm Rd.). The owner is very cordial
and is open to have anyone come who wants to, but please let yourself be
known.
We learned about the bird from a picture in the local newspaper today. The
bird is an adult and it is associating with some of the tame ducks that are
raised there. We assume that's what drew the duck into this farm. The whole
place is a real menagerie of different fowl, but this lone wild duck really
stands out.
The bird flew in to the farm a week ago and is hanging around with the tame
Muscovy & other ducks, but it is NOT BANDED and NOT CLIPPED (the hind toe
was clearly seen) and is leery of pedestrians. While I was taking pictures,
I got within 10 yrds before I had to back off, as it was acting nervously. A
friend of the farmer actually saw the bird fly in. There are run-off
containment ponds at factories nearby and some Canada Geese in the area, but
no farm ponds with exotic hatchlings that we know of. It does act unused to
people, but the farm has a lot of tame ducks that are fed and watered, so it
associates with them. At this point, we have no doubt that it is a wild
bird. For any who want to see it, considering that it's been there for a
week, it may well stick around much longer.
Jon & BJ Little
Winchester
