A walk along the north end Newgale beach at low tide on Saturday gave terrific views of several groups of Common Scoter. They were feeding actively no more than 100m from the tide line, often diving simultaneously, and very mobile whilst on the surface, including making short flights up and down the beach line. Numbers were well over 100, with what seemed to be a pretty even mix of males and females.
Mixed in with the Scoter were a Great Crested Grebe and a male Common Eider, still coming out of eclipse: a very striking bird.
