Ducks, Ducks and More Ducks

Blue-winged Teals

Shorebird migration has slowed but the island is still seeing the effects of the fall migration with the arrival of ducks, ducks, and more migratory ducks.  Our most numerous migratory duck, the Blue-winged Teal (BWTE) (Spatula discors), was reported at three locations with numbers close to 100, and in one case over 200 birds.  On November 5th a season-high of 220 Teals was recorded at Woodborne Shorebird Refuge (WSR), Christ Church.  On the 6th, 86 birds were reported in the north of the island while 70 were tallied at a location in the parish of St. Philip on the 8th.   We can assume that numbers like these are also at other suitable locations across the island.

Male and Female Ring-necked Ducks

The duck species with the second highest count was the Ring-necked Duck (RNDU) (Aythya collaris) but its numbers were nowhere close to that of the BWTE.  It was recorded at four locations.  Fours birds were seen at St. Lucy on October 30th, while a high count of three ducks at the WSR on November 7th.  The following day four birds were seen in St. Philip and three more at Redland, St. John/ George. Another close relative to the RNDU, Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) also stopped in at the WSR with six birds reported by a visitor to the island. 

Female Northern Pintails

Three female Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) were reported at three locations between WSR and St. Philip.  WSR continued its outstanding fall migration with the only Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) seen so far for the year.

We are still midway through the duck migration so we should see some more arrivals maybe even a rare species or two, which would be nice. Yes, the ducks are here, lots of them,  ducks, ducks, and more ducks, I hope you get to see them as you Enjoy your birding.