I've gone nuts trying to identify two waterfowl who may be a couple. They do
not fit with local knowledge here in New Bern, NC off the Neuse River. Here's
what they look like:
Very small round, black head with black extending down and inch or so on a
slender, supple, 8" neck. The rest of the neck and body are very dark. We only
see them up close towards dusk when they enter the marina. Their bodies are a
little smaller than Mallards. Their bills are very small and I have not
determined the color. When they swim, their upper neck forms an "S" curve and
moves fore and aft in rhythm with their movement. These could be immature,
much larger birds. Their wings are all dark underneath.
Finally, they have a most curious call - they bark!
Does anybody want to venture a guess? There are just two of them here. Oh, and
they swim around out in the creek allot, giving occasional barks to one
another as they travel relatively far apart from one another.
Thank you,
Ron Rogers
I've gone nuts trying to identify two waterfowl who may be a couple. They do
not fit with local knowledge here in New Bern, NC off the Neuse River. Here's
what they look like:
Very small round, black head with black extending down and inch or so on a
slender, supple, 8" neck. The rest of the neck and body are very dark. We only
see them up close towards dusk when they enter the marina. Their bodies are a
little smaller than Mallards. Their bills are very small and I have not
determined the color. When they swim, their upper neck forms an "S" curve and
moves fore and aft in rhythm with their movement. These could be immature,
much larger birds. Their wings are all dark underneath.
Finally, they have a most curious call - they bark!
Does anybody want to venture a guess? There are just two of them here. Oh, and
they swim around out in the creek allot, giving occasional barks to one
another as they travel relatively far apart from one another.
Thank you,
Ron Rogers
