Dendrocygna autumnalis Black-bellied Whistling Duck.
I spotted this pair at the Savannah NWR across the river in SC this morning. The conditions were rotten: a thick smoke pall from fires in North Florida and South Georgia, waving marsh grass in a southwesterly breeze and way too far for my 80-400. Still I was excited to get even this, because it is not only a distinctive ID, but way outside its range. Supposedly these ducks don't get any further North than South Texas. These two must have taken a right turn and just kept going. This may have something to do with the drought conditions there, I don't know. Anyway, I was thrilled to catch them and thought I would share.
Congratulations for getting this, Phil. For those conditions this is really an awesome shot.
Posted by Richard Ditch on June 23, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Always nice to see this species anywhere they show up. We have them here in AZ but they can be hard to find. They are known to wander - there is a recent report from NJ.
Posted by Charlie Baugh on June 23, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Nothing wrong with that shot, AT ALL, in my opinion. Really great that you posted this.
The Black-bellied whistling duck has been on the move east and north for the last 20+ years. 15 years ago we did not have them in Florida, now they breed throughout the state. They have continued to move north. They are now as far north as Missouri along the Mississippi and like Rich said, NJ along the east coast. So, seeing this from SC is not too surprising. Nice shot for the conditions.
Thanks, Ron. Nothing like direct species knowledge. Both Sibley and Cornel.edu made no mention of movement. I did talk to a local birder this evening, who said the ducks had been breeding there and in Florida for some time. He had also noted them in Ace Basin NWR, between here and Charleston.
Posted by David Graham on June 24, 2011 at 4:39 PM
Just t'add to the documented northward summer travels of the black-bellied tree...pardon me... whistling duck, we had two in S.E. SD last year.
Dave Graham, East River, SD
Very nice image. In July 2006, I found a pair of these in central Kansas, and at the time the siting had birders coming from around the state to see the pair. It was the 12th documented sighting in Kansas at that point. Now, BBWD reports don't get near the response, as sightings are becoming more common in Kansas. Still not abundant, but probably slowly increasing.
Discussion
8 repliesI spotted this pair at the Savannah NWR across the river in SC this morning. The conditions were rotten: a thick smoke pall from fires in North Florida and South Georgia, waving marsh grass in a southwesterly breeze and way too far for my 80-400. Still I was excited to get even this, because it is not only a distinctive ID, but way outside its range. Supposedly these ducks don't get any further North than South Texas. These two must have taken a right turn and just kept going. This may have something to do with the drought conditions there, I don't know. Anyway, I was thrilled to catch them and thought I would share.
Sandy
Dave Graham, East River, SD