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. It is possible to see up to four species of Scoter on the north-east cost, but the most common one (as the name suggests) is this Common Scoter. All male Common Scoters are black and the females brown, with a two-tone head.

The main difference between the four type of Scoters are various subtle white makings 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 has a grey bill with a bright yellow patch.

The photo below shows two female Common Scoters, with characteristic two-tone head. Unusually, they were on the north pool rather than on the sea. Juvenile Scoter also look like this, so these may well have been juveniles.