[obol] Re: Scoter Trifecta in Multnomah County
- From: Bob Archer <rabican1@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 09:21:05 -0700
Hi:
I find first year female Surf Scoter hard to id sometimes. Seems to me
they can look a lot like Black Scoter. I always try to recall these
pictures ( go to photo 11 and 12)
http://www.birdfellow.com/birds/black-scoter-melanitta-nigra#/idPhotos
Note in photo 12 the smaller size and different body shape as well. Also
note how easy it is for a Black Scoter to look down and over its bill,
imagine a Surf Scoter trying to see the top of its bill, no way. A
White-winged Scoter can just manage to do this.
Black Scoter really look more like your normal pond duck than either of
the other two. The top of the bill enters the head at more of an angle
than a Surf Scoter. I think the problem for me is that first-year female
Surf Scoter do not always have those feathers that come down on top of the
bill of Surf Scoter. So the bill looks far more "normal duckish" and thus
Black Scoter.
I skipped over (due to lack of courage and certainty!) trying to figure
out if that was a Black Scoter or Surf since I stink at one photo id's.
But I was assuming it was a Surf based on the size of the duck compared to
the Surf (Black are smaller) and the lack of a "normal duck" look to the
head-bill connection and my impression that the duck can not see the top of
its bill..
Here is a bit Sibley put out on the subject:
http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/02/identifying-scoters-by-shape/
Bob Archer
PDX
On Sun, Oct 26, 2014 at 8:42 PM, Beverly Hallberg <mapsout@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> Tait, Andy and I saw 13 Surf Scoters and at least 1 Black Scoter female
> today - maybe 2 Black Scoter females and maybe a male Black Scoter as well
> - at Hayden Island-Columbia Point.
>
> https://flic.kr/p/pPTXBZ
> https://flic.kr/p/pPYdzy
> https://flic.kr/p/pMNjJd
> https://flic.kr/p/pPE62x
>
> I also believe I saw a White-winged Scoter at Broughton Beach although it
> was too far for good pictures.
>
> And then I wonder if these are White-winged Scoters at Hayden Island
> without the white wing patches or Surf Scoters? The head is very wedge
> shaped and the facial marks are more oval.
> https://flic.kr/p/oT7dHe
>
> Plus the Franklin's Gull was close to the boat launch at Smith/Bybee and
> Andy and I saw a Northern Shrike behind the Bybee blind (but no photo of
> that).
> https://flic.kr/p/pPYrCC
>
> Good birding day in Multnomah County!
>
> Beverly Hallberg
>
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