Which Scoter, Bulgaria (1 Viewer)

Pavel

Well-known member

• Nov 5, 2019

• #1

Common or Black Scoter, ID please? Photo from yesterday, North Black Sea coast of Bulgaria.

 

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Last edited: Nov 5, 2019

Maffong

Well-known member

• Nov 5, 2019

• #2

This sure looks very promising for Black Scoter!

 

RafaelMatias

Unknown member

• Nov 5, 2019

• #3

Unfortunately these photos are not enough for clinching the ID. Common Scoter can have extensive yellow on bill. Take a look at the attached short note.

 

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• Notes on Common Scoter of nominate race with extensive yellow on bill_BritishBirds82_N12_P615_622_N1

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Pavel

Well-known member

• Nov 5, 2019

• #4

Just added another record shot of the bird in flight. Sorry for the bed quality but it's a very distant photo. Hope it helps!

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Nov 5, 2019

• #5

It would be good to have better photos but Black Scoters, at least adult males, are a bit of an 'if you're not sure then it isn't one' species. A classic male almost looks like it has a lemon stuck to its face, which isn't quite the impression I get here. As Rafael says, some male Common Scoters can have fairly extensive on the bill and that seems a more plausible explanation to me.