Birding the Lake Michigan lakefront late morning provided some nice duck action. The highlight and surprise of the day was this beautiful what I think is a leucistic Greater Scaup Duck, female. It gave nice views for a few minutes early afternoon. This location was at the Bruce Street boat landing where the Kinnickinnic River meets the Milwaukee River near the lakefront. As I approached the small parking area there I got out of my car and quietly followed a woman birder Karen who I met after the event up to the hand railing at the river. I picked through the ducks from a few feet behind her not wanting to flush any of the ducks. As she looked through the ducks so did I. I think we both spotted this interesting duck at the same time. As she turned around so did I and we both said, at the same time, I’m getting my camera! It was a fun birding moment as they say. The duck was present when I left. Snow was really coming down heavy when I left the lakefront area. Images were taken on February 15, 2015.
Greater Scaup
Binomial name: Aythya marila
Category: Ducks, Geese and Swans
Size: 16.5” long, 25” wing span
Weight: 1.8 lb
With Greater Scaup, female
With Greater Scaups, males
With Greater Scaups, males
With Greater Scaups, males
With Greater Scaup, male
With Greater Scaups
With Greater Scaups, males
Beautiful!
I took pictures of this same breed of duck on the Milwaukee River on February 27, 2015.