The Surf Scoter

 
These past days I have observed a lone Surf Scoter off the western tip of South Beach, diving and foraging in and out of the breaking wave zone.

Judging from sea duck ID photos it’s a male with white feathers on nape and forehead. Get a closer view through binoculars and you’ll see a bulbous yellowish, red with white bill, and a pair of beautiful golden, green eyes. And perhaps see why they nick name the duck “skunk-headed coot”.

But really what caught my attention was that it was indeed on its own.

These ducks breed in Alaska and Canada, including Labrador and usually visit a more temperate coastline (like Fishers) just during the warmer winters.

There are though plenty of mollusks (mussels) and crustaceans (crabs) to keep this distant traveler around a bit-I bet.