Scaup

The wintering Scaup flock spends most of its time somewhere out in the middle of the loch between Blackrock and Bowmore, but every so often some of them come close to shore, as here.
Malcolm

Scaup

The flock of Scaup wintering in Loch Indaal has declined very sharply in recent years, from 1000 to 1500 only 10 years ago to no more than 200 to 300 in the last few winters. And the reason is almost certainly the stopping of the distillery discharges from Bowmore and Bruichladdich, which no longer provide nutrients for the shellfish which form the main diet of the Scaup. One can't really argue against the removal of pollution from Loch Indaal, even one which is not that harmful to wildlife and actually beneficial to some, but it's a pity in a way that it has had this particular effect.
Malcolm

Scaup flock - Blackrock - Loch Indaal

Scaup seem to spend an awful lot of time asleep

Crescent Moon

The cold weather has returned.  Hard frost again last night.  This was taken a few minutes ago at the top of Loch Indaal where the merse has frozen.  Woodcock were flying in to feed and there were groups of Scaup close to the shore, but too dark to photograph.
Carl

Scaup and Great Northern Divers at Bowmore

The Scaup (Aythya marila) flock continues to build on Loch Indaal.  The two birds in the background are Great Northern Divers (Gavia immer)

Scaup Flock

Loch Indaal is home to one of the largest flocks of wintering Scaup (Aythya marila) in the UK - they usually start arriving in numbers during October, building up to a maximum of over 1,000 birds during January.  Scaup are diving duck - feeding on shellfish as a rule - but they will also take plant material.  They nest on the ground in Iceland, and also Northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

Scaup is also an acronym for 'Scottish Conservative And Unionist Party'

You heard it here first...

Carl

Scaup at Blackrock

I snapped this flock of Scaup at Blackrock while riding home at sunset earlier in the week.  Before we switched to grey winter mode.
Carl