Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) and 
Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)

Common and velvet scoter are medium sized ducks (fig. 1), which breed in small upland lochs before migrating to the coast in late summer to moult. They stay around the coast throughout winter, with some non-breeding birds remaining around the coast all year round. Common scoter typically live to 6 years old and velvet scoter live to 8 years. Both species will usually reach breeding maturity at 2 years (BTO 2023a; 2023b).

Population & Distribution:
There are around 50 pairs of common scoter which breed in the UK, and around 135,000 individuals which winter around the coast (BTO, 2023a). Velvet scoter do not breed in the UK, but there are around 3300 individuals which winter around the coast (BTO, 2023b). Along the East Grampian Coast common scoter are recorded throughout the year, with a large moulting flock between Donmouth and the Ythan Estuary mouth in late summer. Common scoter are regularly recorded at Blackdog (fig. 2 & 3) alongside Girdle Ness, Peterhead, Ythanmouth, Cruden Bay, and St Cyrus. Velvet scoter are an uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant along the East Grampian Coast. They are becoming more uncommon in summer, and the largest densities of velvet scoter are typically found within the moulting scoter flock off Blackdog/ Murcar each year (SOC North East Scotland Branch, n.d.).

Conservation Status:
Common scoter are a Red listed species in the UK due to declines in breeding range and population as well as a localisation of the non-breeding population (Stanbury et al, 2021). Common scoter are a priority species on the Scottish Biodiversity List and UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BRIG, 2007; NatureScot, 2020). Velvet scoter are a Red listed species in the UK due to localisation of the non-breeding population, and they are considered globally threatened (Stanbury et al, 2021). 

Report any sightings to BirdTrack, or NESBReC via the link below.