Follow-Up on American (Black) Scoters

Well, the female American-black scoters have been present now in the waters off of Gooseberry Neck in Westport, Massachusetts, since the end of June and there probably will stay until next spring.  The male black scoters scoters, that we had observed at the end of June, I have not seen in all of my recent visits.  There have just been between 4 to 6 females present, and they are approachable to 25 to 30 feet.
The other day, one of the females swam and wanted to get up on one of the rock-weed covered rocks and could not climb up, despite all her efforts.  So, finally she stopped trying to get on the rock and swam toward the shore.

The American (black) scoters have been found on the Rhode Island sound side of Gooseberry right at the parking lot.  All you have to do is search the shore and the surrounding low rocks and you should be able to find these visitors.

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