Top Ten Lifers of 2009: Number 2

Photos taken by Danny Bales at Viera Wetlands, FL.

Sometimes they say that the best is saved for last. Coming in at the number two spot and also being my last lifer of 2009 I was priveleged to see my first every Masked Duck right here in Florida. The beauty of this bird is I didn't have to really go chasing it down because I was already going right by it's new found home. I was on my way to South Carolina on the 23rd of December. After a leisurely breakfast I decided to take a peak at the bird boards and see if any good birds were in my path northward. To my surprise and delight Danny had posted about a Masked Duck seen the day before at Viera Wetlands. So with this news I was ready to get on my way.

For those that know Viera Wetlands is a great birding spot and ideal due to its close proximity to I-95. I jumped off my exit and made my way to the location mid afternoon. I didn't have much time and the first time driving by the pond I couldn't relocate the bird. I decided to give it one more go and drove back around the stretch. From the farthest location I thought I saw something different so I jumped out of the car and grabbed my scope. It was then that I caught the light on that blue bill. It was a far off look and when I tried to circle around closer and get a better look the bird stayed true to form and shied away but I had my lifer look. My trip home was a little longer than normal but it gave me a truly beautiful duck for the end of the year. I thought it was only fitting that the first lifer of the year was a duck and the last lifer of the year was a duck. One very common, one somewhat rare but both great to see for the first time.