Very Rare Duck

The photo is of a very rare masked duck, this particular one is a female. This is the only documented masked duck in the United States. It is normally a very secretive tropical duck and why it’s now in the Valley is speculation. But the most prevalent theory is that the drought has forced it to move from its home territory to somewhere there is water.

I photographed this masked duck Wednesday in no-man’s land between the border fence and Rio Grande, about 200 yards from each. I arrived at 9:10 a.m. and the duck didn’t make an appearance until 11:50 a.m.