Date: 2/9/26 10:51 pm From: David Yeamans via groups.io <davidralphyeamans...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Erroneous report of white-winged scoter
Today, Monday, I photographed a brown scoter with an all dark bill, two pale marks on the head and white wing feathers. Of course I was delighted to have found "the" white-winged scoter at Cesar Chavez Park (NW corner on shoreline) but later review of my photos dissuaded me from the ID. Because it is about 20% smaller than the adjacent lesser scaup, I must conclude that it was a surf scoter with aberrant, perhaps leucistic feathers, or rump feathers ruffled to expose paleness contrasting with the otherwise brown bird.
I apologize for misleading any other wishful birders who might have seen this rare bird sighting from me. I have corrected my ebird checklist and included a photo here https://ebird.org/checklist/S299186036 ************************* Dave Yeamans Livermore
