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 the Common Scoter. All male Scoters are black and the females brown, with a two-tone head. The main difference between them 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 Velvet Scoter here is the second most common Scoter in Northumberland. It has a black bill with a wide bright orange/yellow surround and white patches around its eyes (see first photo, next to the gull). The other distinguishing thing is that the males have white patches on their wings, shown on the second photo (behind the Common Scoter). The Velvet Scoter is a winter visitor from Scandinavia.