ML646820970

Observation details

In the narrow channel between the open parts of the lake, at about 37.83081, -119.11770. Very distant, but clearly a large scoter, much larger than the nearby coots. Actively diving (long dives). When the bird was properly oriented, the white patch in the secondaries was obvious, and could easily be seen during one brief flapping session. Two very distant photos below, the one on the left taken during the actual checklist period, the one on the right taken (with more glare) after I realized that I could get a bit closer to the bird from north of the marina (immediately post-checklist). I could not detect any obvious white on the side of the head, including around the eye, but there appeared to be (in some orientations) a patch of white over the bill.