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Scoter, Musselburgh, UK (1 Viewer)

Hyrax

Hyrax

Well-known member
I was going through some photos my wife had taken of Velvet Scoter at Musselburgh on boxing day and noticed the individual on the left has a markedly pinkish bill compared to the others, which I thought suggests one of the White-winged Scoter sub-species, stejnegeri or deglandi. It also appears to have a more pronounced bill knob visible in the heavier crop.

I've had little experience of these species so would appreciate some help with this one. Feel like I've overlooked something.

Thanks in advance,

Owen
 

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Looks like a Surf Scoter to me H but wait for the experts.

Rich

Edit. Maybe not looking at Google images. There's some similar Velvet Scoters.
 
Last edited:
I can't open the bottom picture and it is therefore very small on a phone. What is the extent of the white 'tear' around the eye, is it the same as the other birds present or more pronounced?

Stephen
 
Stephen Dunstan said:
I can't open the bottom picture and it is therefore very small on a phone. What is the extent of the white 'tear' around the eye, is it the same as the other birds present or more pronounced?

Stephen
Click to expand...

Hi Stephen,

I attached it the same as the other pictures but because it is such a close crop that's as big as it gets. I can see it a bit better zooming in on the original images here. The distance and resolution make the extent and angle of the white tear difficult for me to discern either way.
 
Not sure where all this Surf Scoter vibe is coming from. It clearly has the white wing flash and face markings of one of the Velvet group.

Stephen
 
Yes just to clarify - definitely not a Surf Scoter, although we did see one about a mile away. This is either an aberrant Velvet Scoter or one of the White-winged Scoter species/subspecies; I'm not sure of their taxanomic status. As far as I'm aware the latter is extremely rare in the UK, so unlikely to be the case but I thought it worth posting to be sure.
 
Sorry posting too slowly! If it is one this is my wife's find, unfortunately I can't claim to have even seen the bird, I was too busy chasing the Surf Scoter.
 
Definitely White-winged Scoter! The knob doesn't look big enough for Stejneger's amongst a few other things.

Cracking find... As Stephen says don't know whether to say congrats or commiserations!

ATB

Steph'
 
I'm kicking myself for not having payed more attention on the day, probably go back for a vane search tomorrow morning. Not a competitive lister but all the same.....
 
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