Surf Scoters at Colonel Sam Smith Park

[Brian Bailey]

Yesterday afternoon, there were lots of scoters, including at least 3 Surf Scoters near shore in bright sunlight at Sam Smith Park.  White-winged Scoters often come in close to shore, but I very rarely find Surf Scoters in so close.  I don't think I've ever had such good views with binoculars.



And even at his close range, distinguishing between female Surf & White-winged Scoters isn't always simple.  
Surf Scoter:

White-winged Scoter:

That's why they're so hard to distinguish at 300 metres!

BB

[Kevin H.]

Very nice

[gary yankech]

great shots....lucky you!

[JW Mills]

Very nice!
We were there on Sunday. The Scoters were still there but they were not co-operating!

[Brian Bailey]

Thanks, it was just fortunate timing to find them so close to shore.  Strangely, my camera really didn't seem to want to focus on that male, although the water just behind him was usually in sharp focus!  

I've noticed that the abundance of scoters seems to be tied to the extent of ice cover on the Great Lakes, and it is currently over 80% http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/ice/.  Living in Toronto, it's easy to not realize we're at one of the largest open water areas in all of the Great Lakes.  (I've never noticed a particular abundance of any other waterfowl in these conditions - not sure why.)

BB

[Molebird]

We went to Sam Smith's yesterday to try to spot the Surfs and were lucky to see two males close to shore.  Lifers for us !  Thank you Brian for pointing them out.

[Dinusaur]

Thanks for the info. I went there today and saw the Surf Scoter pair - a lifer for me. Also, I believe I saw a pair of Female Harlequin Duck. Can someone confirm from the links below? I didn't spot the male.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@ ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@ ... otostream/

[Henrique Pacheco]

Thanks for the info. I went there today and saw the Surf Scoter pair - a lifer for me. Also, I believe I saw a pair of Female Harlequin Duck. Can someone confirm from the links below? I didn't spot the male.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@ ... otostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@ ... otostream/

Looks like Harlequins! Nice find! Does this mean that there are 3 at Col Sams?

[Brian Bailey]

Yes, definitely 3 different Harlequins!  I saw the adult male there last weekend (not as close as the Surf Scoters).

The one on the left looks like a juvenile male.  Not sure of the gender of the one on the right.

BB

[Irene]

There were maybe two today(Tuesday March 10) way out on the lake, not close enough to get a decent photo and no Harlies in sight either, they must have taken off after the morning paparazzi