All photographs ©2004-2008 by Mary Beth Stowe, except where noted
Waterfowl
"Hoodie" and "Woody": a female Hooded Merganser with a male Wood Duck at a private residence's pond along Sandia Creek Road, Riverside Co.
Lost Greater White-fronted Goose at the Roadrunner Club, Borrego Springs
Female Northern Shovelers, South Bay at the end of 7th Street
San Elijo Lagoon
Of the comments I received about this bird, many felt it was a hybrid, but one birder from Britain felt it was well within the range of pure Eurasian, as they evidently have many lighter-headed birds such as this one. To my recollection, the body showed no brownish tinges (except for the chest, of course), which also would be an obvious hybrid clue. However, a friend from Norway (Frode Falkenberg) pointed out the black base to the bill, which is indicative of American and never shows up on Eurasian. Below is a photo of a typical Eurasian X American Wigeon hybrid taken by Matt Heindel at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
Eurasian X American Wigeon hybrid (photo by Matt Heindel)
Digiscoped female Eurasian Wigeon (with male American at right) at Delta Beach, along the Silver Strand.
Blue-winged Teal pair along with a pair of Northern Shovelers at "Lack & Lindsey" at the Salton Sea.
Take a second look: this is a pair of Cinnamon Teal, "caught in the act" at Upper Newport Bay, Orange Co.
Lunch time at Guajome Regional Park
Eclipse-plumaged Wood Duck at Santee Lakes
Male in full breeding plumage, same place
The middle bird sparked much discussion at an SDFO meeting, but the large white eye patch, lack of streaking on the head, and smaller flank spots suggested she was a Wood Duck and belonged to the male on the left; a male Mandarin Duck is on the right.
The odd Ross' Goose will sometimes show up in San Diego Co.; this bird was at Santee Lakes.
This Ruddy Duck is "bubbling" as part of his courtship display (taken at the Santee Sewer Ponds).
"What're you looking at?!" (Northern Shoveler at Santee Sewer Ponds)
Mob of Snow Geese at the Salton Sea NWR's Rock Hill Trail
"Teal log" (both Blue-winged and Cinnamon) at San Joaquin Marsh, Orange Co.
Surf Scoters are rather rare inland; this individual was at the New River Wetlands in Imperial Co.
White-winged Scoters are equally as rare, if not more so; this female was at the Salton Sea State Rec Area in Imperial Co.
This female Greater Scaup joined the above-mentioned scoter and other unusual ducks at the Salton Sea.
This leucistic Northern Shoveler (with a normal bird at left) was sure to grab people's attention at the Dairy Mart Ponds!
What could be cuter than baby Wood Ducks all huddled together? (Taken at Santee Lakes, naturally!)
This Woodie prefers a natural hole to the nest boxes!
Fleeing female Ruddy Duck at the Santee Sewer Ponds creates an interesting ripple effect.
Mallards in eclipse plumage at Lake Hodges
Male (in eclipse plumage) and female Mallards at Huntington Central Park, Orange Co.
This eclipse-plumaged American Wigeon seemed out of place in August until we saw that his wing had been injured... (same location)
Wood Duck pair at Lindo Lake
Ring-necked Duck in mid-flap at "Felicita Pond"
Greater White-fronted Goose wannabe (actually a domestic goose) hanging with the other barnyard geese at Lindo Lake
Ratty-looking Brants that probably oversummered in South Bay.