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By esle9
#73192
Hi everyone, I haven't posted here in a long time.

Last week I was doing a monthly survey at Kits beach for Bird Studies Canada's coastal waterbird surveys, when a Bufflehead x goldeneye hybrid male appeared from around Kits point.

He has been present at least as long as I have been doing the surveys since 2011, and there are also reports from 2010. He is at least in his 6th calendar year then, and he has a while to go to beat the Bufflehead record of 18 years, but he is well past the average lifespan of 2.5.

I think it is interesting that after he migrates every year for the summer, he always returns to the exact same wintering spot, at the tip of Kits point. I was a little concerned when he hadn't shown up by December, but sure enough, he is back at the tip.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to get any reasonable photos of him, but there is a photo of him in this thread from a few years ago: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7438

I don't think it is really possible to tell whether he has Common or Barrow's in him, since it would probably be a bit unpredictable how their genes interact with the Bufflehead, but he seems to hang out more with Common Goldeneyes and Buffleheads.
#73305
That is awesome Else and glad to see you posting! It was great seeing you at the accentor. That is a very cool hybrid. David Wong recently found and photographed a Common GoldeneyeXBarrow's Goldeneye Male Hybrid at Jericho. It's cool to find hybrid ducks like this especially the rare bufflehead cross!

Cheers,
Mel
#82127
After migrating away for the summer, I am happy to report the male Bufflehead-goldeneye has returned to the exact same spot at Kitsilano Beach. If anyone wants to see him, he can usually be spotted a little ways offshore from Kits Point, where he stays through the winter. Very interesting bird, I'm glad he had a safe migration!
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