Taking break from the Trinidad-Tobago series for something of local interest. There seem to be more Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) wintering this year in Marin than in recent years. There was a group of six in the wetlands east of Corte Madera (Marta's Marsh), and lately a male Blue-winged at the Las Gallinas ponds (#1). On March 6th I watched him resting on the bank near his close cousin, the Cinnamon Teal, which has s similar powder-blue patch on the inner wing.
The shot of the pair of males show a hint of the pink sheen sometimes seen on the face of the Blue-winged Teal. Both birds here can't be in sharp focus because of the limited depth of field of the spotting scope. Second shot of the Blue-winged reveals a bit of blue wing patch (female has similar blue), and the third shot also shows the green speculum on the inner flight feathers (secondaries) as he contorts to rub his upper back with the back of his head.
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| As the Blue-winged swims away we see a pink sheen on his head, and the blue wing patch. |
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| Head thrown back and wing patch and speculum revealed. |
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