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Recent bird sightings
Bird Sightings : Hebrides : Surf Scoter
JuvenileSurf Scoter
Melanitta nigra
Gaelic: Lacha-bheag-dhubh
Photograph © John Dempsey
Ardvule - North Uist - Outer Hebrides (Western Isles)
16th October, 2006
Our Scoter photographs
Juvenile
(Black Scoter)
- Surf Scoter
- Melanitta perspicillata
- UK: Accidental
- UK: Fewer than 20 records BTO
- WI: Scarce Visitor (very small numbers recorded in most years)
- Breeds: Alaska & Canada
- Winters: South USA, Europe & UK
- Habitat: Close to sea, lakes, rivers, tundra
- Diet: Molluscs, crustaceans, (migration fish eggs)
- Large sea duck, bulky shape, large bill.
Male almost all black, white patches nape & forehead. Bulbous red, yellow & white bill. Females brown birds, pale head patches. Head wedge-shaped & no white in wings helps ID female from female velvet scoter- Similar birds: Velvet Scoter (rare), Common Scoter , Eider,
Surf Scoter records in the Western Isles
Scarce Visitor (very small numbers recorded in most years).
Source: Outer Hebrides Bird Report (2001)Taransay sound is a good site.
The chart below shows how abundant the Surf Scoter is during a month or when you are more likely to see it.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
(Source: Outer Hebrides Birds Checklist)
Male or female ducks and their collective nouns
Some people use the word duck only for an adult female and drake for an adult male whilst others say hen and drake.
Waterfowl collective nouns (From WIKI): waterfowl (on water) A raft waterfowl A bunch of waterfowl waterfowl (less than 30) A knob ducks, swimming A paddling of ducks waterfowl A plump ducks, idle in water A raft of ducks ducks, diving A dopping of ducks ducks, on ground A badelynge of ducks ducks, flying A flight, plump, or team of ducks ducks A brace, bunch, flock, skein, sord, string, brace, flush
Sources of information for the bird sightings section
John's Blog of his two week stay in the Uists
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