October 27, 2026
Monday Mystery Answered
On Monday I wrote… Yesterday morning, top Celery Farm Nature Preserve birder Julie McCall saw an unusual-looking hawk over the…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
July 28, 2008
CELERY FARM: Monday morning mystery 1
This duck was seen at Phairs Pond on Sunday, and touched off a major identification effort.
Any guesses?
2 comments
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Ah, it’s the fearsome Pileated Puddle Duck, having just won a grueling mud wrestling contest and standing on the back of a submerged American Alligator. (Sorry–feeling kinda crazy–it’s almost midnight and I’m trying to get a bunch of dang calendar photos ready to deliver tomorrow!)
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The overall structure looks like a hooded merganser, but I’m not sure that the plumage matches completely.
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2 comments
Tom Burr
Ah, it’s the fearsome Pileated Puddle Duck, having just won a grueling mud wrestling contest and standing on the back of a submerged American Alligator. (Sorry–feeling kinda crazy–it’s almost midnight and I’m trying to get a bunch of dang calendar photos ready to deliver tomorrow!)
John
The overall structure looks like a hooded merganser, but I’m not sure that the plumage matches completely.