A fine adult male Surf Scoter has been present in Stokes Bay, Gosport since 25th February and after our return from Cornwall I was itching to get down there and see it. So before work I made a short visit to the site. Luckily the bird was showing when I arrived although it was rather distant, almost in the middle of the Solent in fact. While views were okay through the scope the bird was too far out for anything other than record shots.
Surf Scoter - The bird was in the company of a male and female Common Scoter
Surf Scoter (bird on right) and Common Scoter with the Isle of Wight and
Osbourne House in the background
