9/22 Info on a mystery Teal. About a week ago Tom Murray saw some Green-winged Teal and Blue-winged Teal at Trap Falls Reservoir in Shelton. On 9/17 Sam Buttrick photographed one or two Blue-winged Teal that exhibited a somewhat larger bill and some rusty red coloration, suggesting possibly Cinnamon Teal. (Cinnamon Teal is very rare in the northeast, with one confirmed record for CT). Many of us subsequently went to try to study and photograph these birds. Differentiating female-type BW and Cinn Teal is a challenge. Here are my photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S195519019 And expert Paul Lehman’s assessment: “Frank, Unfortunately, I'd say it is problematic. Some Blue-wingeds can have a slight tinge of color that is sort of dull reddish. Most important, the eyeline looks too bold and I see what looks like a bit of that white spot/area on the feathering near the base of the bill as shown by Blue-winged (although duller). The bill size doesn't strike me as clearly larger--at least not large enough to get one into the safer Cinnamon zone. The problem comes with juvenile Cinnamons, which show a bolder face pattern and slightly smaller bill compared to the adults, and thus are more Blue-winged like. There is also just a fair amount of plain variation within Cinnamons of the same age. Anyway, I would not wish to call it a pure Cinnamon, and would go with either Blue-winged or hybrid (which you'll never prove!).” Then on 9/18 Linda Olsen obtained fine photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S195735532 And here is expert Louis Bevier’s assessment: “Hi Frank, Given the intensity and extent of reddish/cinnamon tones to the breast and underparts, I would say this is not a Blue-winged Teal. I am not sure what age this bird is. If it is a juvenile, then the duller face pattern could be seen on Blue-winged. Then again, I've never seen one so reddish below. The bill is not big enough for Cinnamon Teal to me, but again a young bird could or would have a less developed and slightly smaller bill. Could you ever determine the eye color? It looks reddish-brown, but if more reddish, then that would be interesting. All that said, I think you have to leave this as a slash. It might be a hybrid, but it is not in a plumage that one could use to identify such. So you are stuck. It is an interesting bird.” So, a definite name cannot to assigned to this individual teal. So it’s best to leave it as Blue-winged Teal/Cinnamon Teal.” I don’t know if it is still present; it might be. Frank Mantlik Stratford Sent from my iPhone