| Common Name | Ruddy Duck |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oxyura Jamaicensis |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 08/09/2020 |
| Media | |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Jayne McGarry |
| Mailing Address | 264 Grove St Rutland, VT 05701 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 09/25/2020 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | I also observed and recorded sightings on June5, 14, 20 |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Place Name | Chittenden Reservoir |
| Township | Chittenden |
| County | VT |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 12:30 PM |
| Length of Time Observed | 30 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 45 ft |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 10 ft |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | naked eye |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | We've seen this duck several times and it seemed to be quite comfortable with us, coming quite close. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | small cove with a stream inlet. There were a lot of reeds. |
| Behaviors Observed | It would dive under water like a loon. It frequently "stood up" on the water to rearrange its wings. It also would swim into the reeds. It clearly wasn't happy when the resident loons swam into the cove. It darted into the reeds for a while. |
| Description of Vocalizations | I can't describe them but it did make soft noises occasionally. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | It would swim around, dive under or stick its head under the surface. It swam quite close to us, faster and slower and darted into the reeds on one ocassion. |
| Relative Size & Shape | It was pretty small. Approximately 5-6 inches above the water and maybe 8-9 in length although might have been a bit longer including the tail feathers. |
| Head | Teal/brown beak, white cheeks, black head and neck. Black eyes on black part of head. |
| Feet & Bill | bill was a tealish brown. |
| Upper Back | medium brown |
| Lower Back & Rump | tail feathers were a darker brown |
| Wings | lighter feathers in places |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | darker brown at top of neck and the chest and belly were lighter |
| Tail | straight and angled up and darker brown/gray |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | I keep a bird book with me and no others looked similar. |
| Other Notes & Comments | I wouldn't know about this. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Immediately After |
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