First found by Gus Keri, it was initially thought to be a Surf Scoter.This can be understandable confusion --even I have trouble at times- when its a female or young male. When I responded to the scene , finding the scoter gliding away from the West Island Rustic Shelter shoreline, I saw a white sliver along the wing edge. Later, as it settled within the Ruddy Duck flock,my coworker Howard saw the scoter preened itself exposing its wing, confirming the bird to be a WHITE WINGED SCOTER. Later, Janet Zinn got a photo she posted on Facebook New York Birders group showing the full wing spread and its white speculum. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10215544329193401&set=a.1132065233882&type=3&theater
The scoter continued in the southwest confines of the later close to West Island.
This is the first sighting of a White winged since 1964 when that bird spent over 2 months from September to November. A fantastic find by Gus Keri!
On Further analysis , if you focus on the facial field marks, is the position of the white. On a white winged, the white spot is an oval shaped spot above the upper edge of the bill. ON a Surf, its a vertical sliver behind the back edge of the bill.
heres' a good primer http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/02/identifying-scoters-by-shape/
Below is the records for Prospect White winged scoter, Todays bird is the 3rd PP record.
Prospect ParkKings, US-NY
EXPLORE HOTSPOT| DATE | # | OBSERVER | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964-11-09 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-11-08 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-11-07 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-11-06 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-11-05 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-11-04 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-11-03 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-11-02 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-11-01 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-31 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-30 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-29 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-28 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-27 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-26 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-25 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-24 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-23 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-22 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-21 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-20 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-19 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-18 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-17 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-16 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-15 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-14 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-13 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-12 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-11 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-10 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-09 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-08 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-07 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-06 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-05 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-04 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-03 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-02 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-10-01 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-30 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-29 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-28 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-27 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-26 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-25 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-24 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-23 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-22 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-21 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-20 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-19 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-18 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-17 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-16 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1964-09-15 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |
| 1956-03-17 | 1 | NYC Bird Report Data | Checklist |