Adult male Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016 (All photos: Michael O'Clery).
Now back for a third winter, the first and so far the only Irish record of a Black Scoter. He only made a brief enough appearance at Rossbeigh in October and November 2015. After November, he was seen once at Waterville in December, then back at Rossbeigh for one more time in March 2016 before moving on.
Adult male Black Scoter with Common Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016.
Adult male Black Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016.
Adult male Black Scoter with Common Scoter, Rossbeigh, 25th October 2016.
This Nearctic version of Common Scoter is right at home in the scoter flock at Rossbeigh, indulging in fights and flights with the locals, and is often to be seen calling vigourously to flock-mates. Common Scoter doesn't open it's bill to call, though Black Scoter gives a full on, open-bill call, a surprisingly easy thing to see in the field (or rather, the ocean).
