Velvet scoter and the scoter flock at Ainsdale

It seemed like perfect conditions for looking through the scoter flock at Ainsdale this morning, with bright sunshine and light winds. The only problem was that high tide was 06:09 with low tide 12:52. Surely that would mean that the birds would be further out? Perhaps not though, because I remember last year when there was a black scoter off Hoylake, the recommended viewing time there was actually low tide because the scoter flock didn't really come much closer in at high tide, they more or less stayed in the same position. I assume that the reason for this is that they stayed over the mussel beds where they feed, and in fact this food source might actually be more accessible at low tide. So if you were prepared to walk a mile offshore you could get a lot closer to the birds at low tide. It's the same flock and the same beach really, just that the River Mersey is in between, so presumably the same rules apply? Anyway I decided to give it a go. 

I arrived at Ainsdale at 09:30 and walked out to the edge of the sea and scanned the flock. There were probably about 500 common scoter spread across the sea at reasonably close range, i.e. < 0.5km (1/3 mile). Then there were probably another 500 up to 1km out at sea. Finally there were uncounted hundreds (thousands?) that were just dots in the distance, even on 60x magnification. They were so far out that I pondered for a moment if they were the same birds that I could see distantly from Colwyn Bay last weekend! And the answer is yes, they probably are part of the same impressive flock, which stretches across the whole of Liverpool Bay.

Fortunately I managed to find a drake velvet scoter with one of the closer flocks. It was close enough to see the white mark behind it's eye and I could see the bill shape and pattern pretty well. Other birds seen today included 6 red-breasted mergansers, 10 great crested grebes and at least 3 red-throated divers.

I stayed until 12:00 following the tide out but unfortunately there was no sign of the recent surf scoter.