Ducks, Swans, and Geese (35)

Fulvous Whistling-Duck *
A rare visitor to the phosphate pits. Thirty were seen at the Fort Green phosphate mine in January, 2005 after a 10 year absence and two were still there in May. Fulvous were last seen in May of 2006 at the 4-corners mine. Two proud parents with their four small chicks, a first breeding record for the county were present.They are usually in the company of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.

Photo: R. Munguia

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck*
A fairly common resident that has since 1989, moved into the County from the southwest and has been increasing in numbers steadily. This bird is found in phosphate pits where 109 were counted in late October of 1997, and the wet areas near Bartow. This duck is easily seen at the Circle B-Bar Reserve near Lakeland where 300+ are being reported in January, 2011. They usually are found in flocks of a couple dozen. The LCBC high count of 251 in was 2005, 135 in 2003, and 86 in 1998.

Muscovy Duck *(domestic)

A common feral duck of the lakes of urban Polk County and SCP. Up to ten a day can be seen at SCP. Their appearance is quite different from the true muscovies of Mexico. The LCBC maximum of 245 in 2009, 176 was in 2005, 162 in 2006, and 124 in 2004.

Masked Duck
This duck is extremely rare in Florida. A pair of individual were spotted near Lake Wales in late December 1983 and they remained for several days.

Tundra Swan
Wild swans are rarely seen this far south in Florida. We have one record near Lakeland in December 1977.

Mute Swan *
Many feral birds can be found on some of the lakes in Lakeland. The original swans were a gift from the Queen of England years ago. By 2010 there were 56 swans livng in and being cared for by the people of Lakeland. It's no wonder that Lakeland is known as the City of Swans. The LCBC of 2010 listed 56 birds.

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Black Swan*
Several feral birds can be found on some of the lakes in Lakeland. This may be the only spot in Florida where these beautiful swans may be seen outside of a zoo.

Snow Goose
A rare winter resident on lakes and pits, singly, or in small flocks of up to 16. First record by Nicholson near Dundee on Feb 21, 1954. Two color phases are seen, white or blue. The LCBC high count of was 6 in 2001.

Photo: Ken Corregan

Ross's Goose

Photographed at the Circle B Bar Reserve in December 2010. The first Polk County record.

Canada Goose
These geese are very rare,with some scattered local reports, mostly feral. However, a couple of wild birds were reported in 1976. They can be found on some of the Lakeland lakes. In similar situations these geese have become a pest but so far in 2010 they remain scarse. The LCBC high count of 3 was in 2003.

Wood Duck *
A fairly common permanent resident found on lakes through out the area. Flocks of 30 to 50 are seen in winter. A spring maximum of 156 were counted in Lake Alfred in March 1997. The LCBC high count of 246 was in 1998.

Gadwall
An uncommon winter visitor, early October through March, usually in numbers less than 30. They are mostly found in the phosphate pits. A winter maximum of 319 was reported on December 12, 1999. The LCBC high count of 170 was in 1976.

Eurasian Wigeon
Only a couple of recent records from the phosphate mines, the last in late March of 1999, have been noted. The Central Landfill near Lakeland produced one Christmas count record in December of 2005.

American Wigeon
A common winter resident, early October through late April, found mostly in phosphate pits. While flocks of five or six hundred can usually be found, the winter maximum was 2,050 in early December of 1996. There is one summer record. the LCBC high count of 252 was in 1996 and 162 in 1993.

Mallard*
A rare winter resident, however, numerous feral birds breed on local urban lakes and farms. The LCBC high count of 495 was in 2005 and 442 in 2000.

American Black Duck
A rare winter resident, commonly hybridized with Mottled or Mallard Ducks. There identification is extremely difficult. One bird was photographed at the Circlr B Bar reserve in January 2011.

Mottled Duck *
A locally common permanent resident found on lakes and pits. They are usually seen in pairs but several hundred at a time are possible. Mottled are oddly absent from the PPM in late November and December. A fall maximum of 569 was reported in a PPM in late August 1998. In May of 2006, 570 were counted from the PPM's. The LCBC high count of 209 was in 1967.

Blue-winged Teal *
A common winter visitor, August - May, on lakes and pits. Sometimes thousands of teal can be found. A few breed during the summer in phosphate pits. A fall maximum of 3,040 was reported in September 1989. The LCBC high count of 1,460 was in 2001 and 248 in 1996.

Northern Shoveler
A common winter visitor, September through June, mostly in shallow phosphate pits.The local name is Mud Duck. A spring maximum of 6,050 was counted in March 1989. The LCBC high count of 232 was in 1968.

Photo: Herman

Green-winged Teal
A fairly common winter resident, late September through early April, found mainly in phosphate pits. Flocks reached 3,000 in early December 1990. The LCBC high count of 513 was in 2001 and 250 in 1995.

Cinnamon Teal
One old record is known from 1951, which was shot by a hunter. In the winter of 2001 a single bird was reported from a couple locations in the PPM. A nice drake was found at the Circle B Bar reserve near Lakeland on 24 January, 2007.

Northern Pintail
An uncommon winter visitor, late October to February, found mostly in phosphate pits. A winter maximum of 95 was observed in late December 1999. The LCBC high count of was 10 in 1967.

Canvasback
A uncommon winter visitor, early November through early March, found on our lakes and pits. Recent flocks have been less than 50. The odd bill slope helps to identify this bird. A winter maximum of 90 was reported in early February 1997. The LCBC high count of 119 was in 1977.

Redhead
A rare winter visitor found on our lakes and pits. They are mostly found in numbers less than 5. A winter maximum of 10 was noted on Nov. 6, 2005 and 9 on Dec. 5, 1999. The LCBC high count of 13 was in 1992.

Ring-necked Duck
A very common winter visitor, early October through April, found on lakes and pits. The winter maximum of 2,030 was seen in November of 1999. The LWCBC of 10,065 in was 1992; LCBC 7,050 in 1988.

Greater Scaup
One winter record from the PPM ( photo) in 2001, but they are probably more common because identification is such a problem. This bird is almost always seen in salt water habitats on the coast.

Lesser Scaup
A fairly common winter visitor, early October - late April, in lakes and pits. Formerly an abundant species but today greatly reduced. A winter maximum of 1,660 was seen in late January 1997. The LCBC high count of 6,323 was in 1988.

Common Eider
Eiders are very rare in Florida, more commonly found in New England waters. One female was reported in January 1988 in a phosphate pit.

Long-tailed Duck (Oldsquaw)
Very few sightings are noted from central Florida. A couple of records are from the PPM, last seen in October 1988.

Surf Scoter
Scoters are very rarely found inland. We have two winter records, first from Lakeland in 1976 and second in 1991 from a PPM.

White-winged Scoter
This species is very rarely found inland. We have one record from near Lakeland in November 1971 and a second from SCP/ Auburndale in December 1972. The last is from the PPM on 27 November through 26 December 1999.

Common Goldeneye
This northern duck is only rarely found in Florida. A few winter records have been reported from lakes and pits. This duck was last reported in Lakeland in January 2005. the LCBC high count of 4 was in 1978.

Photo: Herman
Bufflehead
An uncommon winter visitor, November through March, found on lakes and pits. Rarely more than ten buffelheads are found at a time. The LCBC high count of 12 was in 1968.

Hooded Merganser
A fairly common winter visitor, early November - late March, found on pits and lakes. Flocks of several hundred are possible. A winter maximum of 720 was reported in January 2001. the LCBC high count of 450 was in 1966.

Red-breasted Merganser
An unusual winter visitor, November through March, found in very small numbers on pits and lakes. The colorful male is even less common. The species was last seen on 15 May, 2005. A high count of 19 was reported in January, 1983. The LCBC high count of 10 was in 1983.

Ruddy Duck
A common winter resident, October - April, found on pits and lakes. A few sometimes spend the summer here. Very large flocks were formerly found, with fall maximum of 7,000 in November 1988. The LCBC high count of 22,066 was in 1973.

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