Date: 5/13/25 5:26 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: American Black Duck (??) at Bald Knob NWR
After we sent this report, we found photographs of Mottled Ducks with olive bills, so we are reviewing and doing more research on this duck. The light was dim as well which may have altered the duck's overall coloration. Will let folks know what we find either way. Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 5/12/25 9:31 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: American Black Duck at Bald Knob NWR Not very often do we get to see this duck in Arkansas, and honestly I certainly didn't expect to see one in May, but so be it. Michael and I made a late afternoon stop at the refuge today, mainly to see a Sora that's been doing some early evening feeding along a canal on the eastern portion of Huntsman Rd. Afterwards we decided to do a quick loop around the Moist Soil Units across from the grain bins to see what might be out there. In the past week a hundred-plus Black-bellied Whistling Ducks have been coming in to these cells to feed. We've learned this is a common behavior for these nocturnal feeders. Most of the water has dissipated in these cells, so the Whistlers apparently are finding another place to feed. But I digress.When we turned down the side of Cell 3, I noticed a very dark duck at the far end of the field, initially thinking it might be a Whistler...but as we approached, I could see the paler head. Excitement was brewing, and we were extra tickled when Michael's photos revealed the duck had an olive bill. So we slowly and quietly got out of the car for scope looks and photos. Maybe we were too suspicious because BAM, suddenly it took off with a male Mallard, flying past the grain bins. We spent a little more time trying to relocate it with no success.See our eBird report below for more information. Please note we now have a new sub-location called "Central Ag Fields" to help people better navigate the refuge. I hope you will use this sub-location when you bird the fields around the grain bins.https://ebird.org/checklist/S237128379Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
