Record Scoter Counts

17 February 2010

Record numbers of Common Scoter counted in Carmarthen Bay

One of our Ecologists, James, is excited to report that record numbers of Common Scoter were counted yesterday in Carmarthen Bay, South Wales. James has been monitoring the numbers with monthly counts during the winter and yesterday recorded a total of over 40,000 individuals!

Previous winter records for the area have been in the region of 20,000-28,500 and it is possible that this year's extremely harsh winter weather across the continent has resulted in a temporary influx into this area. Scandinavia recorded the coldest winter for 50 years!

The data set is collected for the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and forms part of their monitoring of the UK's only marine Special Protection Area (mSPA), so designated because of its importance to wintering Common Scoter; Carmarthen Bay regularly supports approximately 20% of the UK's wintering population.

Male Common Scoter

Common Scoter flock at sea