Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra), Butcher Jones Picnic Area, Saguaro Lake, Maricopa County

This female Black Scoter was found 21 October 2007 on an AZFO Field Trip following the annual meeting. Black Scoter is casual in Arizona. Prior to 2005, there were only seven accepted AZ records. According to "Birds of Phoenix and Maricopa County" (1997) the only previous county records occurred in November 1975 when up to 3 were present. In 2006 a Black Scoter was found at the Marina on Saguaro Lake! http://www.azfo.org/gallery/blackScoterKR.html It is on the Arizona Bird Committee's review list.

21 October 2007 photo by Dave Powell