Upon returning to our home in Lake Frederick around 4 p.m. this afternoon, I
stopped by the boat ramp area to show my mother the lake. There were 4
Long-tailed Ducks (1 male, 3 females) straight out and not far from the boat
launch area. Not far from them and near the dam breast were 2 Bonaparte’s
Gulls. I could see that there were more ducks (and lots of Canada Geese)
further out, but light and distance were not good for ID, so I dropped everyone
else off at the house and took my scope to water’s edge in the neighborhood and
further back the lake. A group of 3 turned out to be a female Common Goldeneye
and what I’m fairly certain were 2 female Greater Scaup. The head shape and the
width and fullness of the white patch/crescent behind the bill were the 2 field
marks that led me to that ID. Also present were 6 Hooded Mergansers (4 male and
2 female).
Dave Boltz
