Black Scoter

We enjoyed two birding adventures this week. On 29 October 2021 we finished house cleaning and ran out to Capitol Lake in Olympia. We did not see many birds. We did meet  two birders, a high school student and his grandfather. They confirmed the lack of exotic birds, but mentioned that they were on their way to look for a Black Scoter at KGY Point, jutting out into Puget Sound about a mile from Capitol Lake. When we finished our walk, Erika said, “I suppose you want to look for the scoter.” She needed to ask?

Several birders patrolled the point, including the two birders we just met. “Have you found the scoter?” I asked. “Yes, it is with the Surf Scoters about a quarter-mile away between two buoys.” Even from that distance, the white cheek patches and sides to the neck on the Black Scoter were distinct. In the first photo, the Black Scoter is on the left—a Surf Scoter is to the right. This is the second Black Scoter I have seen in Olympia. This large duck is common enough in the ocean, but is encountered less often in the sound or further east in Washington.