Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), Cochise Lake (Willcox Twin Lakes), Cochise County

This Surf Scoter was discovered and photographed by Richard Fray on 11 December 2004 at the Willcox ponds.  The bird was present for a couple of hours before flying off and landing on one of the ponds on the golf course. It was not seen again after that.

Surf Scoter is the most likely of the three scoters in Arizona.  It is a casual transient and most likely in late fall or early winter. 

Submitting photos to AZFO does not constitute reporting a rare bird for consideration as an official record. To ensure that a record becomes official, details or photos of Sketch Details Species should be sent to the Editors of North American Birds and a full report of Review Species should be submitted to the Arizona Bird Committee. Most rare birds are under _documented and subsequent observers of a rarity are always encouraged to submit reports and additional photos, especially for birds that are challenging to identify.

11 December 2004, digiscoped photos by Richard Fray