BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 drake Sat on sea c.40m offshore with the pair of Shoveler. Long black bill. Black forehead. Large white crescent in front of eye running vertically down head – at top of crescent white line extending horizontally bordering crown-sides. Ear coverts and neck sides slaty-blue. Breast and flanks brown peppered with large dark spots. Large white spot at rear of flanks. Undertail-coverts black. Superb flight view as it at first flew east, circled back in front of us and then headed west. Forearm a rich blue bordered at rear by white line narrowing towards body. Primaries black. Underwings strikingly white. Sussex addition.
Wednesday, 7 May 2003
7th May 2003 Goring Gap 11.30am – 11.50am. Calm, sunny and clear
Shoveler 2
BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 drake Sat on sea c.40m offshore with the pair of Shoveler. Long black bill. Black forehead. Large white crescent in front of eye running vertically down head – at top of crescent white line extending horizontally bordering crown-sides. Ear coverts and neck sides slaty-blue. Breast and flanks brown peppered with large dark spots. Large white spot at rear of flanks. Undertail-coverts black. Superb flight view as it at first flew east, circled back in front of us and then headed west. Forearm a rich blue bordered at rear by white line narrowing towards body. Primaries black. Underwings strikingly white. Sussex addition.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL 1 drake Sat on sea c.40m offshore with the pair of Shoveler. Long black bill. Black forehead. Large white crescent in front of eye running vertically down head – at top of crescent white line extending horizontally bordering crown-sides. Ear coverts and neck sides slaty-blue. Breast and flanks brown peppered with large dark spots. Large white spot at rear of flanks. Undertail-coverts black. Superb flight view as it at first flew east, circled back in front of us and then headed west. Forearm a rich blue bordered at rear by white line narrowing towards body. Primaries black. Underwings strikingly white. Sussex addition.
