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@Caley Thomas 2.0sooooooo jealous!!! Congrats!!!! Two amazing birds!

It’s not a teal

Nothing about this bird 'feels' like Ring-billed-necked to me. What about something other than the two species originally suggested?

Yesterday in Southern Maryland, Bald Eagle trying to scare up some dinner. It made several dives and low passes and finally the ducks spooked, but momentum was carrying the eagle in the opposite direction so the ducks all got away.

WOW!!!! What a shot.

They're resident and fairly abundant breeding birds in the keys. I saw one down there a few weeks ago. Probably not rare enough to warrant inclusion in this thread

A quick stop here before the main checklist to get an Ash-throated Flycatcher (rare) for the year, but it was nowhere to be found. OK stuff for just the parking lot and what I heard coming from the surrounding areas: https://ebird.org/checklist/S156073371 Then, off to the main hotspot. Fewer species than last time I was here, but that's because I was target birding lifers. I did get the White-crowned Sparrow I was after, but the Yellow-headed Blackbirds haven't yet showed up. Always nice to make the County rare Bird alert - I made is 2x with the Tropical Kingbirds and White-crowned Sparrow. Great trip! https://ebird.org/checklist/S156094752 Then, on the way home, I again looked for the Ash-throated flycatcher, but it wasn't there: https://ebird.org/checklist/S156096570

I got my lifer White-crowned Sparrow and the Tropical Kingbirds at known locations on the same road: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/612099835 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/612099807

#751 - Mottled Owl

#750 - Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

White-crowned Sparrow: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/612099833

American Kestrel: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/612099777

According to what I was reeding, they are local birds.

Sorry -- I'm all over the place. Bottom picture looks more like a Ring-necked Duck's belly pattern. It's possible the fairly extensive white patch behind the bill (in the initial photos) is the light and blurry-movement of the bird playing tricks on me. It's possible all the photos are playing tricks on me, and I should look at a field guide! 🙂 In the field, if you can get your binoculars on the bird in flight: a Blue-winged will indeed have a substantial powder blue patch in their wing.

Does this shot showing the belly help or change any opinions?

The wing pattern is wrong for Blue-winged Teal.

No again ! Not too many NJ records.

The white facial marking seems (to my eyes, in these photos) far too extensive to be a Ring-necked Duck. They don't really have a white patch, like the Blue-winged Teal has, behind the beak. You'd also think with a Ring-necked Duck that there would be some lighter spots toward the front of the duck, which is apparent in most photos of the species in flight -- even at a great distance. The lighting, angle, and clarity is tough though, so it's difficult to see some of the telltale signs in the wing. But if I were in the field and saw that face through my binoculars, I'd lean very much towards Blue-winged Teal.

I think I see blue in wing

BWTE

Why isn’t this an Osprey?

Taken this afternoon in Palm Beach County, Florida: If I see either in the water, I can tell the difference, but am having a hard time with these flyovers:

There is nothing in this photo to indicate any birds are present

I completely agree with Turkey Vulture.

Looks like two sets of eyes to me, although they are spaced differently. Taken this morning in Palm Beach County, Florida: