São Jacinto ducks: a Lesser Scaup and more… (December 19 – 21)

Back from three days of duck related work at the São Jacinto reserve (Portugal). Ducks were abundant and our catches were very reasonable and diverse; enough to keep us very busy. Most remarkable catch was this Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis, a North American species, certainly not very common in Portugal.  

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis male

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula female

Male Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis. More photos will appear on the pt-duck website in the near future (http://www.pt-ducks.com)

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula female

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis; we always catch at least one.

Remember this bird? It’s an adult Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus with poorly developed primaries in its wings. We caught this particular individual earlier on November 26, 2012, while it was still in its first year (http://www.timvannus.blogspot.pt/2012/12/good-times-november-26-30-sao-jacinto.html).  It appears that flying is not a necessity for a Moorhen...

The ponds were packed with ducks.

Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita were extremely abundant during our stay. It's a common wintering bird in Portugal.

During observations there’s always this panic moment, usually involving a Goshawk...

After a failed attempt to grab a Wigeon this Goshawk decided to join me in the observations for a while.

Good times; November 26 - 30: São Jacinto, Coimbra & Lisboa

São Jacinto duck pond on November 26.

 1st Year Moorhen with an abnormal development of its first plumage. Captured on November 27. Top right wing.

Top right wing.

Top left wing.

Underside left wing.

There currently seem to be quite a few Lesser Black-backed's to be found roosting on nine floating platforms in the Ria de Aveiro, which are used for the farming of Mussels Mytilus edulis, I believe. About 2000 gulls were present there on November 27.

Ringing of one of two 1st year Little Grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis that were caught on November 28.

Eurasian Teal Anas crecca, captured on November 28. Male.

Eurasian Teal Anas crecca, captured on November 28. Female.

Marked Eurasian Wigeon Anas Penelope

Paul do Taipal (Taipal Marsh), November 29.

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo ringed BLUE 116, WHITE inscription. From East Germany.

 The Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata, native to Mexico, Central, and South America.

An adult female Goshawk caught a Mallard.

Several Marsh harriers Circus aeruginosus tried to scare off the Goshawk from its food.

After the Goshawk left, instead of the Marh harriers two Common buzzards Buteo buteo occupied the duck for a while.

The Marsh harriers were obviously lowest in rank here and failed to drive off the buzzards too.

 

And then they had to fight over the remains with each other first…

Just when the Marsh harriers seemed to have lost their interest in the carcass a 1^st winter Goshawk female showed up at the site and, after having spent an hour observing live prey in the pond from a tree branch, left off with whatever was left of the duck.

 

In ecology, a feeding frenzy is a situation where oversaturation of a supply of food leads to rapid feeding by predatory animals, in this case Little egrets Egretta garzetta in Coimbra - Villa Verde.

One of two Hen harriers Circus cyaneus at the EVOA Project near Lisboa (1^st winter). November 30.

About 3000 Eurasian Teals were present in the pond of the EVOA Project.

Which attracted the attention of several Marsh harriers and a 1st winter Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus.