On February 28, 2004, I birded the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area alone. I arrived about 8:30 A.M. and walked to the new observation tower on the east side of Ga. Hwy. 17. The impoundments were well flooded, and there were hundreds of ducks present. From the platform, I could see Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Mottled Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal. The predominant species was Blue-winged Teal. I would estimate the number close to 1000 birds, although I did not get an actual count.

After about thirty minutes of searching through the flocks for something unusual, I took my scope in one arm and started down the steep steps of the tower. As I was half-way down, a small flock of teal settled in to the impoundment between the tower and Hwy. 17 on the left side of the path to the tower from my vantage point. I later walked off the distance, which was 90 yards. I paused and looked at the flock, holding my binoculars in one hand.

At first, I saw nothing but Blue-winged Teal. Suddenly, a small duck swam into view from behind some of the Blue-wings. I was astonished that it appeared to be a solid reddish brown - cinnamon- with a black rear end. The bird then swam behind some of the Blue-wings. When I tried to tip-toe to the bottom of the steps to set up my scope, the flock flushed and flew south toward the other end of the impoundments. I was not able to follow their flight well enough to get an exact location, but only a general direction. At that point, I knew that I had seen a Cinnamon Teal, but I certainly wanted a longer look to make sure that I had not hallucinated.

I trudged to the back ponds and looked for the Cinnamon for about forty-five minutes with no success. As I was relocating to continue the search, Jeff Sewell and Iain Stephenson arrived. I told them what I had seen, and without any prodding they joined the search.

A short time later, we spotted some teal swimming in view of the path in one of the small channels in the cut grass that fills some of the ponds. The flock was swimming across a small opening and giving only a brief view. As we searched the flock, Jeff shouted, "Cinnamon Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Cinnamon Teal!!" (This is an "excited utterance", admissible in court as an exception to the hearsay rule, because the law regards such utterances as uncommonly truthful).

We started down a small path toward the channel, but the flock flushed again. Iain was able to see the Cinnamon again in flight, but it was difficult to pick out because of the twisting flight characteristic of teal. This time, the flock settled in the big open south pond, offering us excellent views through our spotting scopes. We could see the red eye, the rich reddish brown color of the head, breast and sides and the beautiful buff tertials as well as the black undertail coverts and femoral tract. We could also see that the bill was more spatulate than that of the other teal nearby. It was a spectacular breeding plumaged male, Cinnamon Teal.

Cinnamon Teal is a review species in Georgia. The Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds lists it as accidental in winter with six records from Augusta since 1977(Waters and Waters, O 63:32) and one record from the coast at the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area 16 MAR- 16 APR, 1988 (Wigh, O 53:53).

This report is currently under review by the Records Committee. Photographs were taken by several individuals and are posted on this website.

Recognition is due to Jeff Sewell and Dr. Iain Stephenson for their role in the relocation of the Cinnamon Teal. Many observers were able to see the bird prior to the precipitous draining of the Altamaha in early March, a month when migrating ducks need habitat.

Return to Species Account Menu