[EBB Sightings] Alameda Creek - Redheads or Ring-necked Females?

Joseph, If you have images, the eye-ring and trailing
white eyeline, the conehead of the Ring-necked (as
opposed to the blocky gadwall-esque head of the
Redhead) and the forward flank spur of the Ring-necked
would also help i.d. these birds as female ring-necks.
 Your description, particularly the extensive white at
the base of the bill would rule out all but the most
aberrantly colored Redhead females. 

The percentages, in regard to habitat, would lean
heavily in favor of Ring-necked. 
Redhead (from BNA on-line; $35 at your local
computer): Habitat specialist in winter; heavily
dependent on shallow, low-energy, coastal ecosystems
dominated by seagrass species: shoalgrass,
manateegrass, and turtlegrass.

I know, I know, migrants can show up anywhere for a
short period of time. I didn't say "diagnostic" i just
said "the percentages." Easy everyone. relax.

And speaking of fun, Winton Ave at low tide had "all
hands on deck" as thousands upon thousands of
shorebirds were working the mudflats, and Frank's Dump
was completely emptied out, save for a large back lot
flock of avocets.  A Red Fox on Mt. Trashmore w/full
winter coat may have been the most unique sighting,
but 1 Ruddy Turnstone, and 1 Lincoln's Sparrow were
the highlights. Mt. Trashmore is so thick w/brush,
that it looks like a good Short-eared Owl roost. 
Worth staying out 'til dusk one of these days.

best regards,
Bob Power
Oakland, Ca 

--- Joseph Devine  wrote:

> I had occasion to visit Alameda Creek at the old
> bridge on Old Canyon Rd. From the bridge, looking
> north I saw 2 ducks that were brownish overall, w/
> more reddish tones on the heads & necks. Upon close
> examination & processing images at home, I believe
> the 2 ducks I saw today were female Ring-necked
> Ducks. They both had extensive light crescents at
> the base of their bills, dark cheeks w/ lighter
> color towards the back of the neck (behind the
> ears), and dark slate from the base of the bills to
> a light, almost white ring before a black tip on the
> bill. There was one male Ring-necked Duck w/ in 50 -
> 75 yds the whole time. I saw no male Redhead from
> the bridge at Mowry up to the rocks heading into the
> hills.
>   Again, don't know if these are the same ducks as
> the ones which were reported as Redheads. This is
> what I found today. Perhaps the Redheads moved.
> 
> 		
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