Vermont Rare Bird Reports 2022

Craig Provost (South Burlington, VT)

Air temp 45 F, water 34 F, wind roughly south 10 mph, partly cloudy. Very good viewing conditions initially; fair conditions in the end. Initially at closer distance, atmospheric distortion near negligible and waves minimal. Bird eventually relocated to more distant location, which was more exposed to south wind and waves. Sun also peaked through clouds near the end of observation making atmospheric distortion more noticeable.

Nikon 20-45x 60mm spotting scope, and a Celestron 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with TeleVue prism erector and Celestron 18mm X-Cel LX eyepiece (effective 113x magnification) mounted on a custom platform, Manfrotto 3066 video head, and Manfrotto 132XB heavy duty tripod.

Have seen at least six King Eiders, hundreds or thousands of Common Eiders, and hundreds of thousands of Mallards.

Lake Champlain - open lake. Bird was loosely associating with large goldeneye flock of several hundred Common Goldeneyes and five or six Barrow's Goldeneyes.

Bird was very near large goldeneye raft, remaining to the open water side of the group. It flew with the flock as the entire group relocated a few hundred feet to the southwest. It reared up and flapped several times and dove once.

None heard

Was scanning a large goldeneye flock parked on the water for Barrow's Goldeneyes and noticed this bird at outer edge of the flock. Bird was quickly recognized by its overall structure including domed back and thick neck, finely patterned brown plumage, lighter brown head and neck, black bill with whitish feather intrusion at base, and size relative to goldeneyes.

Noticeably larger than adjacent Common Goldeneyes but not overwhelmingly so as would be Common Eider. Domed back with lower tail section like average diving duck as opposed to elevated tail section like average dabbler such as Mallard. Quite thick-necked and relatively small headed and small billed compared to large head and bill superstructure of Common Eider.

Fairly rounded head with distinguishable forehead leading to slightly upward curving upper mandible; overall light brown gradually fading to much lighter brown, nearly white, where intruded onto base of bill; light around dark eye rather than darker eyeline of Common Eider or Mallard. All generally giving much cuter appearance than Common Eider.

Feet not seen. Bill black, relatively short compared to Common Eider, slightly concave slope on upper edge.

Brown, finely patterned with dark; slightly darker than side and head/neck.

Not noted. "Bumps" on back not noticed though also not sought.

Scapulars brown, darker than side and head/neck, finely marked. Flight feathers and greater coverts very dark brown, near black. Axillaries white, with white center to underside of inner wing; underwing otherwise dark.

Breast and flanks light brown marked with fine dark pattern, under tail not seen.

Short but otherwise not noted.

Distinguished from Mallard as noted above, including thicker neck, black bill, light around eye, domed back, etc. Distinguished from Common Eider as noted above, including "cuter" head and bill structure, smaller size, etc.

Female