The great black duck from Hudson’s Bay

Wee were delighted by a visit from “The great black duck from Hudson’s Bay” in Torbay last week.

A Surf Scoter was entertaining the passengers from a distance on one of Mike Langman‘s wildlife cruises on board Kelly’s Hero out of Brixham with our skipper Dave Saunders.

Surf Scoters, Melanitta perspicillata, are large sea ducks native to North America.

This one has brownish wings which makes it more likely to be a first winter male. It will eventually have a white forehead and full black plumage over the wings.

Here it is in its unnatural habitat – a bay full of beach huts.

I may have to go to Hudson’s Bay to see another.