Mexican Duck gone? ; a couple early arrivals

Mexican Duck gone? ; a couple early arrivals
By – 12:42 pm

On Friday, 12 Aug, a juvenile Red Knot with a flock of 90 adults at the J Street mudflats sets a new early arrival date for that age-class in the county by one day. Yeah! A Green-winged Teal at Sweetwater Reservoir also on the 12th may be the second earliest arrival date–with the earliest published record being 9 Aug 1978. This species is somewhat regular starting the third week of August, however. Also on the 12th, a juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs and continuing summering Ring-necked Duck were at the upper end of Lower Otay Lake, and a continuing, over-summering, near-adult Bald Eagle was at Sweetwater. Reddish Egrets continue at both J Street and at the San Diego River mouth.

The current last date for the Lower Otay Lake Mexican Duck appears to be 8 Aug. It has now been looked for several times since Tuesday with no success, and the number of Mallards at that north end appears to be only about half of what it was. Whether the bird has fully vacated the premises or just shifted to another part of the lake is unknown.

–Paul Lehman, San Diego