The way I ID ruddies, especially at a distance or in bad light, is by the
shape: they look like a cow patty with a stick stuck in one side of it.  May
be a little too simplistic for many but it works doe me!

Dorothy Lambert





>From: Norma Zier <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: MO Wild Bird Forum <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Jacomo & Blue Springs Lakes
>Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 14:12:25 -0600
>
>Went out this am to check out the lake birds seen:
>bald eagle
>GB heron
>ring-billed gull
>common golden eye
>coots
>ring-necked duck
>greater scaup
>hooded merganser
>bufflehead
>pelican
>pied-billed grebe
>mallard
>gadwall
>8 ruddy ducks,  I would not have known what they were because of the
>light and distance and they are in basic plumage but 1 was still in
>alternate and his little white cheeks were really shining. Is it late
>for these guys to be here?
>all of those were on Jacomo and the ruddy were in ligget cove and seen
>from the south end on the hill.
>Blue Springs lake had a lot of hooded mergansers and some golden-eye on
>the west side and close to the causeway (sp).  also a bunch of gull but
>did not check them out.
>
>Norma Zier
>
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