Surf Scoter...
Dec 10, 2018 15:08:02 #
If you haven't spent much time on one coast or the other or the Great Lakes during the non breeding season, you may have missed the beauty and clownish countenance of the male Surf Scoter...so here he is. This is a very active diving duck.
jak
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jak
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Dec 10, 2018 15:10:47 #
Now that's something new to me. We don't get those on the west coast as far as I know.
jak86094 wrote:
If you've not spent much time on one coast or the other or the Great Lakes during the non breeding season, you may have missed the beauty and clownish countenance of the male Surf Scoter...so here he is. This is a very active diving duck.
jak
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jak
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Dec 10, 2018 15:11:57 #
Dec 10, 2018 15:21:57 #
DanielB wrote:
Now that's something new to me. We don't get those on the west coast as far as I know.
Daniel,
Actually, they are frequently seen here on the West Coast. This picture was taken at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach. I have commonly see them over several decades in the autumn through spring. Black Scoters and White-Winged Scoters are also seen periodically in the Winter, but are not as common as the Surf-Scoter. I'm not familiar with the wetlands in the San Diego area, but I would bet they are seen there and in the bays. Thanks for your interest and for taking the time to comment. You might check with your local chapter of the Audubon Society for locations where you can see these live. jak
Dec 10, 2018 21:13:34 #
Dec 10, 2018 21:29:09 #
Swamp-Cork wrote:
Excellent download, jak!
Thanks, Corky. Glad you liked it. It’s such a unique duck. jak
Dec 11, 2018 02:26:23 #
I have often seen them in Bolinas Lagoon, in northern California in years past. Exciting to see but very odd looking bill. Very good photo!
Dec 11, 2018 03:57:46 #
Katydid wrote:
I have often seen them in Bolinas Lagoon, in northern California in years past. Exciting to see but very odd looking bill. Very good photo!
Many thanks, Katy. More of a documentary shot than artistic, but a success for that. Have a great week.
jak
Dec 11, 2018 09:24:07 #
Dec 11, 2018 10:10:48 #
Looks good!! I got some pics of surf scooters in Oregon way out in the waves- much too far away for a good pic. They are great divers.
Dec 11, 2018 10:22:19 #
jak86094 wrote:
If you haven't spent much time on one coast or the other or the Great Lakes during the non breeding season, you may have missed the beauty and clownish countenance of the male Surf Scoter...so here he is. This is a very active diving duck.
jak
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jak
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Dec 11, 2018 10:27:37 #
Dec 11, 2018 10:34:05 #
suntouched wrote:
Looks good!! I got some pics of surf scooters in Oregon way out in the waves- much too far away for a good pic. They are great divers.
It would have been difficult to get a shot like this out on the ocean. Luckily, they like the main bay of the Reserve, which has several places where close observation is possible, and that’s where I got this shot. Thanks for the kind comments. Jak
Dec 11, 2018 11:30:10 #
Dec 11, 2018 11:46:41 #
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