Melanitta nigra

Common Scoter - A large sea duck. I came across these common scoters at distance in Raghly Harbour in County Sligo. Fascinating to watch as they are all tightly packed, and all dive together and all take off together! Common Scoter are almost entirely marine during the winter, and tend to congregate in large flocks on shallow seas with sandy bottoms supporting their preferred prey. Resident and winter visitor from the Continent to all Irish coasts between October and April.