[NatureNS] Scaup

Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:35:05 -0400
From: "Paul S. Boyer" <psboyer@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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On 13 Aug, I was sailing my small catboat on a southward course west  
of Franks George Island in St. Margaret's Bay (Halifax RM), when I  
came upon a Scaup, which swam frantically before me.  Like a rabbit  
running in front of a car, he never tried to turn to the side, but  
just kept going in my direction just ahead of me; and instead of  
taking to the air, he finally plunged beneath the surface.  This is  
apparently typical scaup behavior.

A few hour later I ran to the lee side (north side) of Big Throop  
Island, and next to the rock bar there found a huge flock of Scaup  
(perhaps forty or fifty).  They showed the same behavior, and churned  
the water so that it was filled with spray in a continuous layer.

My question is, is it not early for Scaup to show up in this area?  I  
was not close enough to tell if these were Lesser or Greater, but if I  
had to guess, I would say Greater.

— Paul S. Boyer

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