Forward: Black Scoter

["Utah Birds" <utahbirds at excite dot com>]

Date: Sunday, March 02, 2003 
Subject: Black Scoter at Mona Reservoir
Email_Address: lu.giddings@ed.utah.edu

A BLACK SCOTER was observed in the inlet immediately behind the dam at Mona Reservoir today between 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. It was viewed from a distance of about 225 yards with a 20x60 power spotting scope under nearly ideal  atmospheric conditions. It had the characteristic black slightly hooked bill with a large bright orange-yellow bump on the upper bill. The bird was dark, 
with dark eyes and dark legs and feet. It was not jet black, like the AMERICAN COOTS that also swam a few hundred yards away in the open water of the lake, but it was very dark and completely without any visible white or light coloration. It shared the inlet with a male BUFFLEHEAD and several COMMON GOLDENEYES. It was much larger than the bufflehead, and slightly larger than the goldeneyes. It behaved similarly to theses birds as it fed. Unfortunately no photos were taken.

Any help viewing and corroborating identification of this bird would be much appreciated. Good luck!

Lu Giddings






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