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Hi Folks,
Today a friend and I did a little
birding and I would like to report the sighting of some ducks I cannot identify.
There were four of them on a farm dam near Lake Muirhead. If anyone wishes to
check them out, the dam where we spotted the ducks is just west of where L.
Muirhead is nearest the Yarram Gap Rd. I'm assuming they are some sort of
domestic species but not having seen them before, I thought I'd post the
sighting on Birding-Aus.
About 30-35 cm, they are only
slightly larger (but a heavier build) than the Hoary-headed Grebe that was also
on the dam. Dark brown/black
bill. Brown forehead and crown fading to a brown stripe extending over the nape.
Dark eye. White/cream chin, neck & throat blending into a mostly brown back,
but with some paler markings. Chocolate brown breast and belly. Rump cream/brown
with tail in an 'untidy' appearance. They are a diving duck. The voice was a
single 'quack'. The plumage was generally 'fluffy' in appearance.
We observed the ducks for about 15
minutes and I first thought they might have been pink-eared ducks, but once
viewed through the scope it was obvious they weren't.
Any ideas? ;-)
Cheers,
David Cameron
Hamilton
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