Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Black Scoter
Scientific name:	Melanitta nigra
Date:	November 11, 2005
Time:	3:00 PM
Length of time observed:	45 minutes
Number:	2
Age:	?
Sex:	female
Location:	Antelope Island Causeway near the marina
County:	Davis
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	125 feet
Optical equipment:	10x42 Bushnell binoculars
Weather:	cloudy
Light Conditions:	overcast light but pretty good
Description: Size of bird:	fairly large
(Description:) Basic Shape:	duck shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	dark brown
(Description:) Bill Type:	short heavy bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	dark brown overall with light lower cheek - I am familiar with the species from photographing one in the same location and approximate same time of year last year (see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:	none
Behavior:	swimming away from shorline at my approach
Habitat:	lake
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	female ruddy duck is similar, but smaller and with a dark line through the eye. Several Ruddy Females were in the area and are much smaller.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	photographed one last year in the same area
References consulted:	Sibley and Kaufman
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Jack Binch
Observer's address:	1564 Crest Circle - Sandy, Utah - 84093
Observer's e-mail address:	roostertael@aol.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	11/11/05 Jack Binch ----- 11/12/05 Pat Jividen, Peggy Eisenberg, Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld, Steve Carr, Bob MacDougall, Jack Binch, Bob Huntington, Carol Gwynn, Sylvia Gray and Diane Fuller also Merrill Webb and Glenn Barlow.
Date prepared:	November 14, 2005
Additional material:	Photo
Additional comments:	I went back on November 13, 2005 to take a picture and only found one still there. Picture sent to Milton Moody