long-tailed duck

A long-tailed duck (previously called old squaw) was first sighted at Lake Sacajawea in Longview by Russ Koppendrayer on January 21, 2011.  It is still being seen as of 2/2/2011 hanging around the Washington Way bridge and Lion's Island.  The male bird is in non-breeding plumage.  If it stays long, we may see it molt towards breeding plumage and develop its characteristic long tail.  This sea duck is more commonly found in pelagic waters and often seen in Puget Sound in winter.