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Subject: [Ducks] Philippine Duck at Mai Po pond 20 [Print This Page]
Author: mcarrie    Time: 9/03/2010 00:24     Subject: Philippine Duck at Mai Po pond 20

A Philippine Duck was observed at Pond 20 during the waterbird count on Sunday (7 March).



Image Attachment: [Philippine Duck] IMG_8218_2.jpg (9/03/2010 00:24, 109.27 KB) / Download count 582
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Author: lpaul    Time: 9/03/2010 08:12

Wow!  That's a bit of a shock!
Author: ajohn    Time: 9/03/2010 09:49

The Philippine Duck was again present this morning on Pond 20 and then 23. It was showing well with Spotbills and Mallards
Author: kmike    Time: 9/03/2010 09:52

seen this morning , but moved to Pond 23 around 0900 am

wish I could go!

Cheers
Mike
Author: sdavid    Time: 9/03/2010 09:58

Make sure you wrap up when you're out there, it's bloomin' cold!
Author: cgeoff    Time: 9/03/2010 11:01

The map below shows the air mass backward trajectory for the 72 hrs prior to 8am on 6th March (supplied by NOAA Air Resources Laboratory). Gives a good clue as to its origins (and it doesn't seem to be Fairview Park!).

GeoffC



Image Attachment: trajectory2010030600.png (9/03/2010 11:01, 39.32 KB) / Download count 475
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Author: lkatherine    Time: 9/03/2010 11:24

Amazing map!
So it will likely be the 501st?

Katherine
Author: cgeoff    Time: 9/03/2010 12:15

This map is provided by the HK Observatory, and can be found at:

http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/trajectory/trajectory_e.shtml

It's very interesting to see the where local air masses originate, and appears to be a good indicator of the origin of newly-arrived birds.

No prizes for guessing where today's air originates....

GeoffC
Author: gary    Time: 9/03/2010 13:34

Could it be escaped captive?

If it was a wild one, it realy a joke for me. As we were assuming it some kind of hybrid without telling other the bird while watching waders in mudflat on that day.
Author: kmike    Time: 9/03/2010 14:12

There are records of vagrants from Taiwan and Japan - no reason why this one should not be wild!

Cheers
Mike
Author: cgeoff    Time: 9/03/2010 14:12

Certainly that's a possibility that will need to be discussed. However, given that other records have occurred in Taiwan and the southernmost Japanese islands, given the time of year and given also the source of air masses in the unseasonably warm weather recently, there is, in my opinion, at least as much likelihood that it is of natural occurrence.

So Gary, who found the bird? Who should I invite to write a first paper, if it's accepted into Category A?

We guessed that it had been thought to be a hybrid/ex-captive individual.

GeoffC

[ Last edited by cgeoff at 9/03/2010 14:54 ]
Author: lmichael    Time: 9/03/2010 14:53

Having dipped this morning due to fieldwork committments it was somewhat galling to discover that I was sitting in the boardwalk hide with people who had just been watching the bird. Please share next time even if you are not sure of the identification.

Thanks

Mike Leven
Author: lmichael    Time: 9/03/2010 16:41

Good news, the duck was found again on Pond 23 this afternoon; it flew off at 16.00 but will most likely be seen again.

Mike Leven
Author: gary    Time: 9/03/2010 18:18

Quote:
Original posted by cgeoff at 9/03/2010 14:12
Certainly that's a possibility that will need to be discussed. However, given that other records have occurred in Taiwan and the southernmost Japanese islands, given the time of year and given also th ...
It's Carrie who found and photoed the bird.
Congratulation!
Gary
Author: mcarrie    Time: 10/03/2010 00:06

I saw the bird together with Milka and then Gary and Nemo during waterbird count.  At that moment, we discussed whether it is a "hybrid" or "captive". Until yesterday evening when I go back to my desk and found the name in a book.

Mike, I am glad that you saw it today. Sorry that I didn't want to disturb you and Geoff when you were concentrated searching for waders (will do next time ). Geoff, I am happy to do some writing if it is accepted.

Carrie
Author: kmike    Time: 10/03/2010 07:16

Congratulations Carrie

A great find -  go birding more often!!!

Cheers
Mike
Author: Dragonfly    Time: 10/03/2010 13:58

It made an appearance again today, the 10th, from noon onwards at pond #20.
Must have been hiding, heads down all morning in the grassy bits in pond 20, and can't really blame it for that! That freezing cold northerly wind can't be appealing for a Filippino Native - and it wasn't appealing to me either! But with the sight of that duck the body temperature started to rise again.
Wonderful find!

Morten
Author: sbena    Time: 10/03/2010 14:07

Seems to like the grassy area inside Pond #20d. Briefly came out to forage just before 2pm then flew over to Gei wai #23.
[Record Shot - Philippine Duck on RHS]




[ Last edited by sbena at 10/03/2010 14:35 ]
Author: kmike    Time: 10/03/2010 19:28

The duck was at Pond 23 until 5:15 when it flew to the back of the reedbed at the back of pond 23.

Many thanks to all who let me look through their scopes and sent me messages all day yesterday and today!

Cheers
Mike K
Author: lmichael    Time: 10/03/2010 21:46

Glad to hear that more people caught up with the duck today. Carrie, I quite understand why you were cautious .  In general though, I think that most of us would rather hear about something that might be unusual even if not confirmed, possible escape etc. - recently I wasted lots of people's time with a possible Squacco Heron which turned out just to be a leucistic Chinese Pond Heron but I still think that it was the right choice to let people know just in case!

Mike Leven

PS I think it will be accepted!
Author: mcarrie    Time: 11/03/2010 00:25

Thanks Mike



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