Need help to identify a duck...

I hope one of you DG duck owners can help me figure out what type of duck that has shown up at the pond here. Its a rather small brown duck that dives under the water sometimes and makes a sorta grunting noise when it 'quacks' - it is not a quack like a mallard or pekin duck. Sorry for the far away shot but it is very shy - unlike the Canadian geese who are shameless and always run up to me begging for food. It always takes off to the other side of the pond when anyone comes down by the shoreline. Its beak is also brown and there is no distinct markings on the wings that helps me identify it for sure. I've looked on a few sites like whatbird.com and allaboutbirds.com, but nothing is jumping out to me. Can anyone help?

Nice pond! I can barely see that there is a duck, perhaps someone with sharper eyes can help

I bet it is a Pied-billed Grebe. I can't tell anything by your pic just what you are saying about it

Donna- Its beak is not pointed like that...I thought it was that at first but the beak is dark brown and more rounded.

It may be a juvenile duck so it may be throwing us off as to what it is. It looks similar to a cinnamon teal, but I'm on the wrong side of the country for it to be that...I'll have to see if I can sneak out there and get a better picture tomorrow.

does this help.Here is a pic of my Cinnamon Teal. They are tiny but not as tiny as Hottentot Teal

Donna - it isn't a cinnamon teal I'm pretty sure because this guy just arrived in the last couple weeks and they are considered a western bird. I can't imagine someone dropped him off here this place is a bit out of the way - some one would have passed about 3 other ponds to choose from.

Here is another picture that I shot this morning. I was able to sneak a little further down the hill before it spotted me and jumped in the water. Still not a great shot but you can at least see the bill and some of the coloring.

what about a Redhead. Say females makes a soft growling note and male makes a catlike call during courtship or possibly some kind of domestic duck
If not try posting on the ID forum. Resin is really good

Donna - It looks a lot like the female duck you posted there. So I will just assume that it is probably a female redhead. I only heard it make its call one time so I think the growl is how it sounded. Thanks for your help in identifying.

In looking at the area that it is normally found it seems to be lingering here when it is usually a winter bird. It may be similar to the Canadian Geese that seem to like to stay in the area. We have a big population of the geese here in Charlotte and unfortunately they are not too smart about walking out in traffic....breaks my heart to see them squished on the road.

Thats a great looking pond, Finding the duck was a real adventure...LOL...I love it non theless...Hay

I always love seeing Donna post her ducks...