I haven't seen any posts to these lists but there is a CINNAMON TEAL being reported at Montezuma NWR today, first discovered yesterday. The bird has been seen at Larue's Lagoon (one of the first wetlands on the right side as you drive the refuge loop) and, with more difficulty, in the main pool across the road from there. It is reported to be a male in transition plumage so not quite the stunning male you would like to see but still a red duck. Photos and notes can be seen in the following eBird checklists. Thanks to Dave Nutter and Jay McGowan for forwarding these.
I would encourage all observers to document their sightings for the NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC). Although this bird is believed to be a good Cinnamon Teal, the possibility of a hybrid could be difficult to rule out. The more good photos and notes we can get, the better our chances of assessing this record correctly. Good birding! Willie Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) (1) - Reported Nov 01, 2015 12:28 by Dave Nutter - NY:SEN:Tyre: Wildlife Dr (personal), Seneca, New York - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=42.9761125,-76.7373562&ll=42.9761 125,-76.7373562 - Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25664307 - Comments: "Found this morning on Larue's Lagoon from Wildlife Drive this morning by James Osborn, who showed it to Lang Elliot & Bob McGuire, the latter who reported it to text rare bird alert and described it to me by phone. Refound by Jay McGowan & Livia Santana scoping north into east central part of Larue's from Seneca Trail between Wildlife Drive and Seneca River; Gary, Ann & I joined them within a couple minutes having been searching on Wildlife Drive at N end of Larue's; viewed through scope for an hour starting 1:25; with female Blue-winged Teal most of the time, swimming together, occasionally splashing rapidly, chasing, and mimicking preening; same size & shape as Blue-winged Teal; black bill slightly larger than bill of Green-winged Teal but not Shoveler-like; black rear end; small whitish area at upper rear of where breeding male Blue-winged Teal shows bold white square but not as large nor bold as Sibley shows in Blue-winged X Cinnamon hybrid; dark on back and top of primaries; sides smoothly and richly washed (but not saturated) with auburn, similarly washed on breast & shoulder but with small dark speckles on shoulder; also auburn wash throughout side of face but slightly paler and showing slight pattern like female with darker line through eye, darker crown, paler near top of bill (not saturated like Sibley shows breeding male Cinnamon nor like breeding male Canvasback, but also not showing broad American Wigeon-like darker cheek as Sibley shows hybrid Blue-winged X Cinnamon); white wing-lining shown when flapping; large pale-blue shoulder patch, green speculum, and white triangular area between shoulder and speculum all seen when flapping and variously any or all or none of these colored areas showing at various times when at rest; flushed about 2:25 and flew N with several Green-winged Teal and other ducks, flying erratically north and appearing to descend into marsh in southeast part of Main Pool across Wildlife Drive beyond end of Larue's; distinctly auburn cast to entire head, neck & body as it flew. I have seen more typical and richly colored breeding male in Isla Vista, CA, and in Yellowstone NP, WY. New for me for NYS, new for Cayuga Lake Basin list if it is indeed a transition plumage male Cinnamon and not a hybrid Blue-winged X Cinnamon Teal. Photos by Ann Mitchell, Gary Kohlenberg, Jay McGowan, Kevin McGowan, probably Wade Rowley, possibly Carl Steckler; also seen by Meg Richardson, Lee Ann Van Leer, Melissa Rowley, Joe Wing and possibly a few others." Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) (1) - Reported Nov 01, 2015 09:43 by James Osborn - Montezuma NWR--Main Pool, Seneca, New York - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=42.9796604,-76.7437077&ll=42.9796 604,-76.7437077 - Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25664128 - Comments: "Bird seen leaving Larue's Lagoon and heading West into the Main Pool at around 2:30 PM. I watched this bird for 90 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes in the afternoon. The bird was photographed by Jay McGowan, Kevin McGowan, Wade Rowley, Ann Mitchell, Gary Kohlenberg, amongst others. Description: uniform smooth cinnamon face and head, dark bill that appeared slightly larger than the Female Blue-wings, somewhat uniform coloration on the body, and blue-over-white shoulder patch with green speculum. The bird appears to be a Drake in "transition". It was hanging around with 2 Female Blue-winged-winged Teals all morning." Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) (1) - Reported Nov 01, 2015 12:17 by Jay McGowan - Montezuma NWR--Wildlife Drive, Seneca, New York - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=42.9817483,-76.7353284&ll=42.9817 483,-76.7353284 - Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25665827 - Media: 5 Photos - Comments: "****Very rare, found earlier today by James Osborn. Transitional male in back of Larue's, only visible from Seneca Trail looking north." Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) (1) - Reported Nov 01, 2015 12:32 by J Gary Kohlenberg - Montezuma NWR--Wildlife Drive, Seneca, New York - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=42.9817483,-76.7353284&ll=42.9817 483,-76.7353284 - Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25662994 - Comments: "***Mega. Found by Jim Osborn, reported by Bob McGuire and Lang Elliot at LaRue's Lagoon. Jay and Livia picked it out from the Seneca Trail. Associating regularly with female Blue-winged Teal. Several times interacting in what seemed like courtship behavior. It spent the hour we observed it swimming and feeding in the SE corner of the lagoon best visible from the Seneca Trail. Many times view was blocked by a small grass clump or the cattails. Looked like transitional plumage male, rich cinnamon colored, but not as deeply uniform or smooth as full breeding plumage. Deep black bill looked slightly larger than BWTE but may have been misleading due to contrast. Blue over white wing patch with green speculum. A small light hip patch led to some discussion of a possible hybrid, but transition plumage made other areas of the sides look light in places. Smooth plain cinnamon face looked good for CITE. At about 2:30 it flew with others across the wildlife drive to the main pool near the road. <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vBQgtDEcA8WeXpYBRzfwzp7zsaTmuBgy rll9pd5_zCE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UdzjgCh2qMY/VjaeJ2tdSmI/AAAAAAAABqs/ 9Yqc0eQAQ5A/s640-Ic42/IMG_2744.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Nj5vfc1IwTXzjatXZ1B-WZ7zsaTmuBgy rll9pd5_zCE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lCjSnqla5Vw/VjaeTJ9V7VI/AAAAAAAABq8/ kiS6CGIFExU/s640-Ic42/IMG_2749.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NgGi__2GXEoLzLW3L7yHyp7zsaTmuBgy rll9pd5_zCE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S7HYQsqu9C0/VjaeC31u_ZI/AAAAAAAABqc/ fam2U8xgCPY/s640-Ic42/IMG_2752.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/92T8RakJLAh2DO3A99LN6p7zsaTmuBgy rll9pd5_zCE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4RifyES7okw/VjaeF3zZzpI/AAAAAAAABqk/ JulyayVqxNo/s640-Ic42/IMG_2741.JPG" /></a>" ------------------ Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com <http://www.betsypottersart.com/> 2013 Big Year: http://www.betsypottersart.com/willie-s-photos/2013-big-year/ Odonates: https://www.flickr.com/photos/107683885@N07/sets/72157653377711578 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --