Surf Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck

A drake Surf Scoter was found off Labrador Bay at around midday today, in the company of a Velvet Scoter and a drake Long-tailed Duck. They were watched all afternoon by a steady stream of admirers, and fed the whole time, diving amongst the mussel farm from which they were presumably feeding off.

It's interesting to note that these birds formed a flock of their own, with the wintering flock of 50 or so Common Scoters only a little way to the north off Teignmouth. Will and I both managed to scope them from The Ness in order to get them on the patch list.

Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter and Surf Scoter

Earlier in the day on the rising tide, Will had two Grey Plovers at Passage House, although these soon flew in to roost with the Curlew and were obscured from view by vegetation. This is the first record for a couple of years.