Recently on a trip to Carnarvon Station, a Bush Heritage
Fund Reserve in Central Qld Highlands approx 200km NW of Roma, for the 5 days
that we were there three of us birdos saw what looked like one lonely Teal mixed
in with a group of about 12 Australian Wood Ducks on a largish dam. The
bird in question was markedly smaller then the Wood Ducks and appeared to
have an overall brownish tinge with what appeared to be a Chestnut/rusty spot
on the chest which was most obvious in the late afternoon sun, even over the
50 odd metres that we viewed the duck. The colourations were more like
the female Baikal as illustrated in Slaters, but presumably that would not be
possible.
Does the female, or imm Male, Chestnut teal have more colour
in them than the guide books indicate and is there any chest markings as in the
duck we saw, which was very obvious.
None of us had a scope so no close views were obtainable for
better ID of highlights.
Thanks in advance.
Greg Neill
