Velvet Scoter - 1949

Melanitta fusca fusca

Mathew records six seen Goodwick Bay, 16 Nov 1886; one picked up on the shore at Tenby, Dec 1889; and one other of uncertain date and place.  H.W.Evans had an immature specimen, shot in Solva harbour.  One adult male, Slebech Mill Pool, 8 Feb 1939 (H.A.Gilbert).  Seen occasionally in Dale Roads (recent records, 7 dec 1947, 22 Jan 1948)

R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society

Velvet Scoter - 1994

Winter visitor. Not recorded in May or from July to September

Up to eight are seen most winters in St Bride's Bay and off Saundersfoot—Amroth, the maximum recorded being 12 offNewgale on 30 December 1988 and 14 passing Strumble Head on 21 October 1991. Also occasionally seen passing Skokholm and Skomer, it has occurred at Newport Bay, Dale Roads, the Cleddau Estuary at Hook, and on fresh water at Bosherston Pools and Slebech Pond.

Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire

Velvet Scoter - 1980s winter

The BTO winter atlas showed that Velvet Scoters were present in two coastal 10km squares during the winters of 1981-82, 1982-82 and 1983-84.

The darker the colour, the higher the relative total count for each 10km square.  The darkest blue represents 3-10 birds seen in a day.

They were mostly seen in association with Common Scoters.

Graham Rees 

Velvet Scoter - 1894

Species account from M Mathew, 1894, "The Birds of Pembrokeshire and its islands"

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