Waterfowl - Lake Torneträsk, Abisko, Sweden (19/05/2019) (1 Viewer)

ryan11111

https://www.instagram.com/the_zoology_duo/

• May 22, 2019

• #1

Hi all,

Would anybody be able to help me confirm the species that I saw today?
I think they are these species but I am not 100% confident so would like some other people's opinions...

Photos:
1) Common scoter (Melanitta nigra)?
2) Velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca)?
3) Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis)?
4) Black-throated diver (Gavia arctica)?
5) Little gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)?

Thanks,

Ryan

 

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Birdbrain22

Well-known member

• May 22, 2019

• #2

Agree with your IDs 1,2 and 4... #3 looks like "Greater" Scaup to me(Aythya marila) and the Gull, may be a Black-headed with that white leading edge.

 

Last edited: May 22, 2019

ryan11111

https://www.instagram.com/the_zoology_duo/

• May 23, 2019

• #3

Here are some more photos to help

 

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Birdbrain22

Well-known member

• May 23, 2019

• #4

Greater Scaup and Black-headed Gull still with new pics. The white leading edge of wing points to BH Gull... a Little Gull would have a white trailing edge. BH can show grayish underwing which can appear very dark.

 

Brosnabirder

Well-known member

• May 23, 2019

• #5

Greater Scaup with that greenish gloss on the head. There's nothing in the head shape to suggest Lesser and and Lesser Scaup would be a rarity in Sweden. The gull looks like Little Gull. That black underwing is a tell tale sign. They're also very small although, of course, that's impossible to judge from a photo of a single bird.

ATB
Tom

 

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• May 23, 2019

• #6

The white wedge on the primaries points to Black-headed Gull, not Little Gull.

 

Brosnabirder

Well-known member

• May 23, 2019

• #7

Microtus said:

The white wedge on the primaries points to Black-headed Gull, not Little Gull.

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Looking at it again, I'm inclined to agree. Blackish underwing must be shadow in that case

 

E

Earnest lad

Well-known member

• May 23, 2019

• #8

I am not an expert on Scaup but I understand the head shape matters.
In this case, according to my (limited) knowledge, the head shape points more to Great scaup than Lesser scaup. Still, if others would be able to comment on this particular aspect, it would be helpful

 

R

Rotherbirder

Well-known member

• May 23, 2019

• #9

Earnest lad said:

I am not an expert on Scaup but I understand the head shape matters.
In this case, according to my (limited) knowledge, the head shape points more to Great scaup than Lesser scaup. Still, if others would be able to comment on this particular aspect, it would be helpful

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As has already been said, Lesser Scaup is a Nearctic species and would be classed as a rarity in Sweden; to have a pair of them would be even less likely! Many factors can contribute to a correct identification, not just appearance.

RB

 

W

Welsh Peregrine

Well-known member

• May 23, 2019

• #10

Greater Scaup and Black-headed Gull are expected in Sweden, Little Gull is rarer (and the wing pattern is wrong here), Lesser Scaup is a rarity. The pictures are certainly GS and BHG.

 

ryan11111

https://www.instagram.com/the_zoology_duo/

• May 24, 2019

• #11

Speaking to a local bird ringer I was told that Lesser Scaup and Little Gull are more common here in Abisko (in the Swedish Arctic on the border of Norway) than GS and BHH? I don't know if this changes anything with the ID's?

 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis

• May 24, 2019

• #12

ryan11111 said:

Speaking to a local bird ringer I was told that Lesser Scaup and Little Gull are more common here in Abisko (in the Swedish Arctic on the border of Norway) than GS and BHH? I don't know if this changes anything with the ID's?

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Can't speak for the gulls, but your local ringer is almost certainly wrong about the scaups...

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• May 24, 2019

• #13

Fat Paul Scholes said:

Can't speak for the gulls, but your local ringer is almost certainly wrong about the scaups...

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Unless he's misunderstanding English names and thinks "lesser scaup" might be English for Aythya fuligula (Tufted Duck)?

 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis

• May 24, 2019

• #14

Nutcracker said:

Unless he's misunderstanding English names and thinks "lesser scaup" might be English for Aythya fuligula (Tufted Duck)?

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Regardless of the mechanism, the statement is still wrong...