White-winged Scoters and Long-tailed Duck Continue ~ February 11, 2026

I did a fairly quick check of the Nazareth Quarry in the early afternoon before heading over to my mom's. The 5 White-winged Scoters continued along the left side of the quarry. The males would occasionally point their heads upwards and call.

Five White-winged Scoters. Note the male calling with its head up.

The Long-tailed Duck was also there along with a female Red-breasted Merganser, but they were both much farther out and too far for any chance of a worthwhile photo.

There were also 5 Greater Scaup, but I hadn't seen any Lessers there so far this year. It's usually the other way around most years. Well today, I finally spotted 2 Lesser Scaup there. They flew across and landed in the near left corner of the quarry.

Two Lesser Scaup in flight. Note the brightest part of the white wing strip only reaching halfway out the wing.

A Lesser Scaup showing its head peak near the back of its head.

Other birds included 3 Snow Geese, 6 Canada Geese, 7 Mallards, 4 American Black Ducks, 6 Ring-necked Ducks, 14 Buffleheads, 17 Common Mergansers, around 45 Ruddy Ducks, 8 American Coots, and a Pied-billed Grebe, plus 50 Ring-billed Gulls, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 4 American Herring Gulls.

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