[All photographs copyright, Gary Nunn 2013] – In the last couple of years of looking at wintering ducks on Mission Bay I do not recall seeing a Canvasback Aythya valisineria before so this was quite a nice local patch find! There are many ritzy looking Redhead on the bay right now but the shape and deep chestnut head of the Canvasback is just so classy looking in my opinion. The negative tide, about minus 1.4 feet, had drawn down the water in Rose Creek substantially, and many diving and dabbling ducks had collected there milling around feeding in the shallows. I spotted this splendid male Canvasback paddling toward the bikepath bridge over Rose Creek (west terminus of North Mission Bay Drive). It looked quite edgy by itself and suddenly took off flying strongly toward the bay, but then veered directly around and flew back right over me on the bridge! I last saw it cupping its wings as it settled in to Rose Creek, just north of Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach. A tiny area of open water so it should not be difficult to relocate!
Canvasback – Rose Creek, Mission Bay 09 Jan 2013
Canvasback – Rose Creek, Mission Bay 09 Jan 2013
Canvasback – Rose Creek, Mission Bay 09 Jan 2013
Canvasback – Rose Creek, Mission Bay 09 Jan 2013
Canvasback – Rose Creek, Mission Bay 09 Jan 2013
What amazing shots!
Hey thanks Karin! The Canvasback made a beeline right past me on the new pedestrian bridge – that was nice!