White-winged Scoter

[angelicque]

How common are these birds?

I saw my first at Humber Bay Park today - what a prehistoric looking bird!

I am very curious how common they are around these parts, seeing as i have never seen them before in years past!

[GStuart]

They are here every winter.  You have to look hard to find Surf and Black Scoters, but they are also around (in far fewer numbers).

[Kin Lau]

We had WW Scoters right in the harbour area last winter/spring at Col Sam. I had a group of males do a fly-by last Monday also @ Col Sam.

[Tyler]

Scoters

Both White-wings and Surf have become quite common in Lake Ontario since the Zebra Mussel invasion in the early 90s. Surfs seem to be confined to the western basin ( Burlington-stoney creek area). White-wings winter through out the  Lake Ontario. In mid May we get large migrations (1000+ birds) leaving each evening from the Oshawa Area. Some time they bring bonus birds with them like King Eiders, brant and black Scoters.

[Kin Lau]

We had one in the Scarborough Bluffs boat launch area today. 1st one I've had there.

[Michael A]

Hi

at Col Sam Smith park this afternoon, there were 2 females and a male very close to shore near the parking lot.  Further out into the lake there were 8 males.   With todays sunshine, the contrasting black and white on the wings was beautiful.

Also had fantastic views of the golden eyes.

Mike