White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca )
Most White-winged Scoters winter on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts but a few spend the cold months on the great Lakes, a trend that seems to be increasing due to the recent invasion here of zebra mussels. They dive to eat mollusks, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects and - in summer - pondweeds.
White-winged scoters breed in northwestern Canada and Alaska
Diving for dinner
I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE
Beautiful bird I have seen a few of them on the lake I never did know what kind they were or where they came from. Thank you again. Hug B
ReplyDeleteoh, quite unusual, great to see
ReplyDeleteI don't recall seeing one 'live', only via photos...a handsome fella but with the white around the eye it rather looks like he's glaring at someone.
ReplyDeleteSounds sensible to stay where the food source is plentiful, lovely captures EG.
ReplyDeleteinteresting eyes & beaks. wow!! so different. ( :
ReplyDeleteWonderful bird captures.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful captures of the bird.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful captures of the bird.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I don't think I have seen one before.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen this one before, love the white on his wings.
ReplyDeleteGreat bird shots. I like the reflections on the water. The water almost looks like satin.
ReplyDeleteDarla
they are wonderful, i like that last photo, diving for dinner...
ReplyDeleteThey have the sweetest faces, I don't think I've ever seen them before either!
ReplyDeleteSurprising they have found open water with the Great Lakes being 88% frozen. A handsome looking species, the white around the eyes is unusual.
ReplyDeleteVery unusual eye markings!
ReplyDeleteVery unusual eye markings!
ReplyDeletewhat a neat bird!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful birds, I think I have seen these ones before.
ReplyDeleteI hope they have big appetites and eat up all those invasive mussels. Pretty duck that I'd really love to see.
ReplyDeleteCute little guys!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. Those eyes look so intense!
ReplyDeleteI live near Lake Michigan, but have not seen the Scoters on it or in any of the surrounding lakes ... of course this year everthing is frozen solid, so they have probably moved elsewhere. They are welcome to come eat the Zebra mussels as they get on everything. We need the predation. Very nice pictures especially the one in the process of a dive.
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Crazy awesome looking birds!!! I have yet to see one of these birds in the wild. They are so unique looking!
ReplyDeleteThe white patches around their eyes make them look unique.
ReplyDeleteThat's a new one for me, EG!
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome creature!
ReplyDeleteThese photographs are wonderful.
wonderful shots. Nice looking Scoter.
ReplyDeleteMy computer was out for a whole day and night---back now YAY
MB
Extraordinarly white around the eye that makes them look a bit fierce!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots!
ReplyDeleteAs usual, beautiful shots !
ReplyDeleteThese look similar to some ducks we have here but I don't think they're the same. Love that last shot...looks like the lucky duck is going to dive for dinner. And the water is so beautifully soft and silky!
ReplyDeleteThere have been reports of this duck at a lake near here, but I haven't made it out there yet. Now I know what to look for. Marvelous images!
ReplyDeletewhat a pretty little fellow
ReplyDeleteCiekawe i bardzo ładne kaczki. Zdjęcia też im świetne zrobiłaś. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and very nice duck. Photos also did them great. Yours.
Cool shots of the Scoters! When I see them they are so far out. They are neat looking birds. Have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteI have been meaning to get out onto the water to see what kinds of sea ducks we have out there...but it has been so very cold!! i like seeing them here on your blog too.
ReplyDeleteThey have strange looking eyes....need to look them up.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful water bird and the water looks like satin with the wind blowing it.
ReplyDeleteZebra mussels! Those are bad, bad, bad. Get some more of these birds.
ReplyDeleteHe looks mean in that first shot.
ReplyDeleteI imagined we were watching them together. Nice shots
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^= <3
I am amazed at the wide variety of birds you have. Love learning about them.
ReplyDeleteVery nice photos! I'm pretty sure that the one in the first photo is giving you the "stink eye."
ReplyDeleteCatching up after being away from the computer. Just looked at the photos of the female and wanted to compare with these. All are very nice images. Am envious as I have never seen one. They have shown up near my second home in Illinois but right now I'm too happy in Florida!
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