Surf Scoter off Taylor Beach: photo by Garry Fletcher
From September on through winter we see flocks of Surf Scoters feeding offshore on Taylor Beach . Today they were 100 metres offshore. They usually do not approach the shore as closely as the grebes and loons.
“The British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks (BC Conservation Data Centre 2000) has designated them as a “Blue Listed” species. Blue List taxa are of special concern because of characteristics that make them particularly sensitive to disturbance from human activities or natural events. Blue-listed taxa are at risk, but are not extirpated, endangered or threatened (Master 1991). “(SFU biology)
A western grebe hangs out with a flock of Surf scoters
Surf Scoters on Taylor beach Oct 28, 2014
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Subfamily: | Merginae |
| Genus: | Melanitta |
| Species: | M. perspicillata |
- See the census records for observations of surf scoters
- See other entries on the Species gallery for the Metchosin Shoreline.
- See the Species Gallery for Race Rocks Ecological Reserve .