The Scoter I saw yesterday AM on Lake Osakis was mis-identified as a Black Scoter and it was a SURF Scoter. It was a larger Black duck, with no white on the wings, had lighter markings on the head but it was difficult to see details as it was diving constantly and the waves were constant. It used its wings to assist each dive (which I had mistakenly associated with Black Scoter and White Wings and in fact Sibley notes that this trait is absent in Black Scoters and is present in White Winged Scoters and Surf Scoters.) The absence of white on the wings (seen clearly several times and on each dive at different angles) mark this as a Surf Scoter when my ignorance is factored out. Thanks for your continued patience. John Ellis- St. Paul
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