Tufted Duck x Sacup hybrid at Erie Power Plant, Monroe Co., 12/26/04

[Brad Murphy]

Greetings,

   Today, December 26th, Phil Chu, Adam Byrne and I birded around Monroe 
County. The day was very uneventful as ice has claimed almost all visible 
open water. The highlight of the day was an apparent Tufted Duck x scaup 
hybrid at the Erie Power plant. The bird is similar to an adult male Tufted 
Duck but has a very short crest and a gray back. Viewing conditions at the 
power plant are good right now and ice has all of the birds closer than they 
normally would be.
   A Lesser Black-backed Gull was present along Lotus Road. The Tyler Road 
pond is now completely frozen.

Good Birding,

Brad Murphy