[mou] Barrow's Goldeneye E of L. Pepin (Wabasha Co.)

[Bruce Fall]

There was an adult male Barrow's Goldeneye with a large flock of  
Common Goldeneyes in the Mississippi R. this afternoon (16 Feb.) 1/2  
mi. E of the far E end of Lake Pepin, Wabasha Co. We viewed it  
(12:30-13:30) from the first (long) pulloff W of Read's Landing, but  
most of the flock had left this site by mid afternoon. This probably  
is one of the two males reported two weeks ago at the same location.  
I also saw a probable 1st-year male BAGO in the same area, identified  
by its distinctive head and bill shape. I was unable to study this  
bird extensively since it was first diving, then sleeping, much of  
the time. There were over 1000 goldeneyes from here to Read's  
Landing; other ducks of interest included a male Canvasback, a male  
Lesser Scaup, and two (male, female) Greater Scaup. At Prescott, WI  
(10:45), the adult male Harlequin Duck was near the railroad trestle  
(both in WI and MN), two months to the day after its initial discovery.

Bruce A. Fall
Minneapolis