Seawatch – 5 December 2014

"Well I am not quite sure what happened today but scoters flew by in shockingly, perhaps even possibly unprecedented December numbers! 27,902 scoters were counted today, with over 14,000 Black Scoters and a season high total of 94 White-winged Scoters. Also having their season high count today were Red-breasted Merganser (169) and Common Eider (24). I just cannot get enough of the eiders– such great looking birds! 

Red-throated Loons are still pushing through in great numbers– a little under 2,900 were recorded today. Exciting were 3 different Red-necked Grebes that flew by; the 18 Horned Grebes seen were more in line with typical numbers for this time of year. A lone Laughing Gull was the only one for the day, and the first jaegers for December consisted of a distant pair harassing a gull. 

And no: there has been no Razorbill yet....."     – S.H.

[Above: Red-throated Loons. Photo by Sam Galick.      Below: scoter flock. Photo by Michael O'Brien.]

Observation time:  0701 – 1650
Observer:  Skye Haas

Species counted:
Snow Goose – 3
Canada Goose – 26
Brant – 130
Wood Duck – 1
American Wigeon – 2
American Black Duck – 14
Mallard – 2
Northern Pintail – 1
Green-winged Teal – 19
Ring-necked Duck – 19
Greater Scaup – 1
Lesser Scaup – 19
Common Eider – 24
Surf Scoter – 4,425
White-winged Scoter – 94
Black Scoter – 14,713
Surf/Black Scoter – 5,870
scoter, sp. – 2,800
Long-tailed Duck – 67
Bufflehead – 4
Common Goldeneye – 1
Hooded Merganser – 1
Red-breasted Merganser – 169
duck, sp. – 133
Red-throated Loon – 2,860
Common Loon – 11
Horned Grebe – 18
Red-necked Grebe – 3
Northern Gannet – 922
Double-crested Cormorant – 127
Great Cormorant – 4
Great Blue Heron – 2
jaeger, sp. – 2
Laughing Gull – 1
Ring-billed Gull – 102
Herring Gull – 757
Great Black-backed Gull – 35

Day Total: 33,384
Season Total: 936,010