Scoters are sea ducks, and are usually seen flying in flocks very low over the water, or swimming in flocks (or rafts) out at sea. Unusually, this one was roosting on St Cuthbert's Island at high tide, on its own.

It is possible to see up to four species of Scoter at Lindisfarne, but the most common one (as the name suggests) is this Common Scoter. All male Scoters are black and the females brown. The main difference between them are various subtle white markings and more interestingly varying forms of eye and bill markings unique to each species and some (such as the Surf scoter) quite bizarre. The Common Scoter here has a grey bill with a bright yellow patch.