[TN-Bird] Scoot: what happens when a Scoter chases a Coot

From: robert loveday <rhloveday@xxxxxxxxx>
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:00:03 -0800 (PST)
To echo the posts of others (& a tip of the hat to Stan Wallace for letting us 
know about this)…

Sunday morning 11/23 10:30 am- 11:15 am we saw (1) Surf Scoter & (1) 
White-winged Scoter from the extended viewing deck directly above the Weir Dam 
@ Norris Dam State Park .  We were fortunate to be in a 30 ft.– 60 ft. viewing 
range, & spotting scope clearly defined the beak/bill of each bird in addition 
to seeing the white wing for (1) of the Scoters. According to Sibley’s 
depictions, both Scoter species looked to be juveniles.

We saw both Scoters dive & preen, then hide bills in wing for a short rest. The 
current pulled them closer to waters edge & near an American Coot resting on a 
fallen tree branch. One of the Scoters approached the Coot with an open beak; 
but the Coot was totally unimpressed (& didn't budge). The Scoter shortly 
thereafter sneaked up from behind & clipped the Coot’s back side causing it to 
“scoot” away (hence the new definition). (3) Ring-necked ducks were also seen 
in the area of the Scoters, but no confrontations were seen.

One bird of note on Songbird trail was our first winter Hermit Thrush.

Robert & Leigh Loveday
Knoxville, TN



      
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[TN-Bird] Scoot: what happens when a Scoter chases a Coot

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