COMMON SCOTER (Melanitta nigra)

Very rare visitor.

Four records from Fairlands Valley Lakes: a female from 23 April until 2 May 1979 when it was found dead, and was given to Stevenage Museum. (This was only the second record of this species in North Hertfordshire, the first was from Radwell Mill in 1913), a male and female on 18 March 1980, a drake on 2 April 1981, and a female on 21 April 1990.