Bird I.D, Hill Head, Hampshire. (1 Viewer)

[Jhoneysett]

Hello,

I originally thought this to be Velvet Scoter but I have been doubtful about it as I saw a group of 4 V Scoters and the head shape was a lot more sweeping.
Eiders are a very common bird at this place but I would just like to set it as something. In one of the photos I have outlined in red what looks like a white belly? Not sure though

Many thanks, Joe.

 

[Andy Lakin]

Hello,

I originally thought this to be Velvet Scoter but I have been doubtful about it as I saw a group of 4 V Scoters and the head shape was a lot more sweeping.
Eiders are a very common bird at this place but I would just like to set it as something. In one of the photos I have outlined in red what looks like a white belly? Not sure though

Many thanks, Joe.

I'm.going for a relocating Loch Ness monster for the last pic😀

 

[Jhoneysett]

I'm.going for a relocating Loch Ness monster for the last pic😀

Same. Sorry it was very distant!

 

[Stonefaction]

Eider would definitely appear to be a possibility, but I wouldn't go anything further than that, from these photos.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Joe,

welcome to Birdforum!

Yes, I surely agree with you and Barry and all, I cant decide between Velvet Scooter and Eider too. But there are more experiencend members here on Birdforum, and I hope for more comments.

But if forced, I would opt for a Velvet Scooter:

• If I understand your post right, you identified it as a Velvet Scooter in the field. If yes, than this is the most important feature for me and more trustable than low resolution, distant pictures.
• I think I can make out a good spotted head-pattern for a female/immature Velvet Scooter.
• Shape with a long neck and lack of a robust body in relation to the head and neck is better for a Velvet Scooter. But:
• Do you have more pictures? They could well help to get a more true picture of the bird and judge features with more confidence
• The sweeping impression of a Velvet Scooter´s head is mainly the result of the uptilted shaped bill and I am not sure if this can be judged here with confidence. Or am I trying to push ID away from an Eider here?
• (it might well be that your bird has largely white back. More pictures might confirm ir reject this. If this was present, than its a confident Eider. But I think the white line is a wave).

Please compare to this Velvet Scooter (Senftenberger See, NE-Germany, 25.01.2025 with my mother)

https://flic.kr/p/2qHGkUs

More videos from that location, including 1st winter Velvet Scooter with extensive whitish belly Samtenten Prachttaucher Sturmmöwe

Conclusion? I hope this is helpful and explains, why, although I cant give a confident ID, would opt for a Velvet Scooter. Welcome to Birdforum again!

​

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Hello Joe,
....
Please compare to this Velvet Scooter (Senftenberger See, NE-Germany, 25.01.2025 with my mother)

https://flic.kr/p/2qHGkUs

​

Until it showed its wings I was confident this was another relocating Loch Ness monster !

 

[Jhoneysett]

Hello Joe,

welcome to Birdforum!

Yes, I surely agree with you and Barry and all, I cant decide between Velvet Scooter and Eider too. But there are more experiencend members here on Birdforum, and I hope for more comments.

But if forced, I would opt for a Velvet Scooter:

• If I understand your post right, you identified it as a Velvet Scooter in the field. If yes, than this is the most important feature for me and more trustable than low resolution, distant pictures.
• I think I can make out a good spotted head-pattern for a female/immature Velvet Scooter.
• Shape with a long neck and lack of a robust body in relation to the head and neck is better for a Velvet Scooter. But:
• Do you have more pictures? They could well help to get a more true picture of the bird and judge features with more confidence
• The sweeping impression of a Velvet Scooter´s head is mainly the result of the uptilted shaped bill and I am not sure if this can be judged here with confidence. Or am I trying to push ID away from an Eider here?
• (it might well be that your bird has largely white back. More pictures might confirm ir reject this. If this was present, than its a confident Eider. But I think the white line is a wave).

Please compare to this Velvet Scooter (Senftenberger See, NE-Germany, 25.01.2025 with my mother)

https://flic.kr/p/2qHGkUs

More videos from that location, including 1st winter Velvet Scooter with extensive whitish belly Samtenten Prachttaucher Sturmmöwe

Conclusion? I hope this is helpful and explains, why, although I cant give a confident ID, would opt for a Velvet Scooter. Welcome to Birdforum again!

​

Hello,

Thank you very much, I will put on more photos later, watch out, there are even more like the Loch Ness Monster, 😂 I did indeed take a video - one being my brothers of the bird/monster diving on my brother's video appears to show white wing patches possibly, and in mine it appears not to. I strongly agree that it does appear to show the white spots on the face in very bold terms, but seems to be a suspiciously slightly wrong place, though that could vary with different birds. I see what you mean about the neck, I see Eider a lot and don't often see them adopting such a posture, but I saw the 4 Velvet Scoter they showed very distinctly"long" necks, reminiscent of the Loch Ness Monster. I did for a while consider rarer Scoters as they have more "Eider" like head shapes, but I could not hold on that long as the wing did not show enough/at all and we don't get rare Scoters this far down the country! Yes, that video does show it well! Here are some more of my Nessy shots. The much better of the 2 of 4 I saw this year not the same bird as in the other photos, still pretty bad! And the video on my camera is pretty terrible! If you put one at one point I think you might just be able to see white?

 

[Jhoneysett]

And here is a video, It was to large a file, believe it or not! The Loch Ness Monster, Relocation. it has to be on Google photos.