[EBB Sightings] Scaups Today - and Ruddy Ducks

Hilary, it does seem early, but birds will be birds.
Here's what Birds of North America on-line has to say
about male Lesser Scaup:

"Breakup of pairs
Males abandon mate in mid- to late incubation period
and begin aggregating in postbreeding flocks in mid-
to late Jun; usually depart breeding site by early to
mid-Jul."

With a dry year and a close breeding territory in
southern Oregon....

Best regards,
Bob Power
Oakland, CA
--- Hilary Powers  wrote:

> Down at the Hayward shoreline - the Cogswell Marsh
> end - I was surprised 
> to see a small group of Lesser Scaup, which I
> thought all headed north 
> months ago. All seemed to be drakes.
> 
> Nearby was a Ruddy Duck, then - most of the way
> back, in the settling 
> pond to the left of the path - were bunches and lots
> more (perhaps 60 to 
> 100), all but maybe a dozen of them drakes in full
> breeding plumage. Are 
> these bachelors who decided not to travel this year?
> 
> -- 
> - Hilary Powers - hilary at powersedit.com - Oakland CA
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