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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American-Black Scoter Update

In an earlier blog, I had talked about the American-Black Scoters http://photobee1.blogspot.com/2012/07/black-american-scoter-melanitta.html.  Presently, there are around 4 to 6 female, black scoters still present At Gooseberry Neck in Westport, Massachusetts.  The scoters are allowing close approach to within 25 to 30 feet, which gives you a good view of them, plus a good opportunity for photography.
This first set of pictures were taken at  sunset and afterwards (it was extremely foggy and there was no Sun present) and into the hour after sunset.  Since my main intention this evening was to photograph the sunset I did not bring my flash with me and left it at home on the counter.  My Nikon D800 was set at ISO 4000 and I was able to obtain very decent photographs.

Black and White Conversion

This set of pictures were taken in the morning, the first ones with the scoters on the rocks was taken just prior to sunrise (still foggy), and the last ones were taken with the Sun present.  I did use fill flash with the better Beamer on my flash, so that I could project the flash out to where the birds were and since I was using my 500 mm lens with 1.4 X converter attached to the lens.

A Morning at Gooseberry-Birding and Photography

I have been going out to Gooseberry for a while before sunrise in order to get the different looks that each day may bring as the sun comes up over Buzzards Bay.  This day I picked up my friend and colleague Doug early so I could get there before sunrise and then we will going to spend the morning birding.
The colors in the sky started off with bands of light red into dark blue and then progressed into the reds as the sun finally rose.

The last two photographs were taken with my long lens


I did not get what I consider a full series of pictures of the sunrise, because swimming into view where a pair of horned grebes.  I went to my car to set up my 500 mm lens with the 1.7 tele-converter so that I could photograph them.  Luckily, the Greebes were not skittish and I was able to get down to the waters edge, and being low able to photograph the grebes.

Horned Grebes

After the sun rose, we started out following along the shoreline, observing and trying to photograph the birds that we saw.  On the east shore, where the water was smooth.  There were a few Sanderlings, an American Golden Plover and a few Black-Bellied Plover's.  There was the usual gulls, eider's and cormorants in the water at the tip.  Turning around the corner to come down the west side, the water was rougher with both swells and waves, and there were a lot more birds present, and they were more active.

Black-bellied Plover with waves

Black-bellied Plover

Sandrlings flying from rock - There is a Dunlin on rock

Sanderling landing

Sanderling Stand Off

Dunlin

A small brown bird flew from over the water and landed just above us on the land.  From the brief glimpse that we had, we were thinking possibly a Horned Lark or a Lapland Longspur.  On walking up to where the bird had landed much to our surprise, a beautiful White-throated Sparrow popped out in front of us.  It had brilliant colors, being that it was the white morph variety.

White-throated Sparrow - white morp

In the rough water, feeding and swimming were common loons, a red-throated loon, surf and white wing scooters.  Flying by was a nice flock of American (Black) scooters.

American or Black  Scoters