Stejneger’s Scoter, Gullane Point, Lothian 10 December 2022 - first for Lothian and Britain

K. GILLON

It was early afternoon on 10 December 2022 when Calum Scott and I finally arrived at Gullane Point, Aberlady, our intended morning visit having been cut short when we received news of a Black-throated Thrush at nearby Haddington. With the sea to the east of the headland largely quiet, we moved to check the area to the west where I knew the majority of scoter and eider had been in recent weeks. Initially the light conditions weren’t in our favour and everything was largely silhouetted. However, after 15 minutes or so, the overhead conditions changed and the light improved significantly. I was scanning through the mixed flocks of Eider and scoter when I suddenly picked up a distant drake scoter with a striking head and bill structure, amongst a small group of Velvets, the likes of which I’d never seen before.

The ‘forehead slope’ was remarkably straight and there was a prominent protuberance, or horn, at the bill base. This definitely warranted closer scrutiny. Unfortunately, CS had chosen this point to head off to investigate a rock-type pipit that had flown past and a frustrating few minutes followed while I waited for him to return before trying to get him onto the bird. Once he was, I was able to switch over to my zoom lens without fear of losing the bird and Calum was the able to direct me as I tried to take some record shots. For the next 30 minutes or so we discussed the visible features while I tried to take as many pics as I could. It was clearly no Velvet Scoter and I was able to dismiss the possibility of it being the regular White-winged Scoter that has frequented the Forth in the last few winters, chiefly off Musselburgh (a bird I have seen on numerous occasions) as the head and bill structure was really very different. There really could only be one conclusion, it surely had to be a drake Stejneger’s Scoter.

Throughout our observation, the group of Velvets that the bird was among were drifting slowly eastwards, though remaining approximately 400 m offshore. As they drew level with the Point they began actively diving before suddenly taking off, heading a long way west and eventually landing very distantly off Aberlady beach. With the light failing it was evident that we weren’t going to achieve anything further by pursuing it. We