While on the beach birding the other day I came across a strange sight… this Surf Scoter was walking up the beach… I know that they love the water so I found it rather odd that he was just wandering around that cold windy day on the sand!

At one point he turned and looked at me before continuing on his journey…

The Surf Scoter breeds in Alaska and Northern Canada and winters along both coasts of Canada and the US down into the Mexican coast.

They eat mostly mollusks and forage by diving underwater being propelled by their feet.

In this photo the Surf Scoter is swimming around near a breakwater in the Ocean, this is where I expect to see him… not walking on the beach!