Eurasian Wigeon - Carrollton

[Perry]

Can you post directions to the Eurasian Wigeon found during the Big Day Challenge? That's a lifer for me and I work in Carrollton!!!

[Ben Lamb]

That would be a lifer for me as well, and I live relatively near Carrollton.

Will the overall results be posted anywhere? Like Perry I'm trying to exceed my previous year's best, so I've been trying to get all the winter / early migrants before spring really arrives. I'd be interested to see what everyone found that I may have missed so far this year.

[Ben Lamb]

Incidentally, Perry, I think remember a while back you mentioned you were particularly interested in seeing a Sedge Wren. Saturday I had a couple of hours to look for birds before heading to the office (which keeps me out of the big day contest) and I had two sedge wrens at Village Creek in pond number 37. They jumped right up on logs and sang out in the open. Life bird for me and got me to 211 for the year.

[Bob Lanier]

The Eurasian Wigeon is on one of the large lakes in Country Place on the south side of the property. When entering Country Place from the south on Marsh, take first exit and turn left. Drive into the 3rd street on your right and at the end of the street, you will see a no trespassing sign. The bird is on that lake with about 100+ American Wigeons. Good luck!
Bob

[Sheryll]

The Eurasian Wigeon is on one of the large lakes in Country Place on the south side of the property.
Bob

I feel stupid. I live in the area and don't know where Country Place is located...your directions are good, but from what direction are you headed when you are on Marsh?

Sheryll

[Bob Lanier]

My directions to Country Place were going North on Marsh. If you take the first exit into Country Place, take a right on the fourth street and you will see a sign that says No Trespassing. I was there about 30 minutes ago, and the bird was in the first pond. You have to look carefully, because there are many American Wigeons.
Bob

[Sheryll]

I found the place, as well as the bird. I must have just missed you.

For those not familiar, Country Place/Square is the second light north of Beltline. Country Place goes west (left) and Country Square goes east (right). Country Lake is on the right.

The lake is surprisingly heavy with waterfowl! There were at least ten or twelve other species present.

[Ben Lamb]

Thanks to Bob for his directions - I found the bird pretty easily. Its head was tucked at first but I didn't appreciate how very different the color of the body is - really sticks out once you know what you're looking for.

[Perry]

Strike one on the Eurasian Wigeon this morning. When I arrived around 8:00 AM, Bob Cherry and Tal Roberts had already been set up for a half an hour searching. I joined them for the next 30 minutes looking with no luck. They were still searching when I left. It's a life bird for all three of us. I gave them my cell phone number to call if they found it. As of 11:30 AM, my phone has not rung. Bummer.

I must scare away rarities. I had the same problem last week with the Ringed Kingfisher. I seem to be the only one that didn't find it.

[betsy]

Eric Carpenter posted Bob Stone's photo of the Eurasian Wigeon on his website:

http://emyadestes.com/op/EUWI_20070317.htm

A comment on texbirds suggested that the bird in the upper left corner "looks to be a good candidate" for a female of the species, but the entire head would be needed to tell for sure.