Richard Collins: Our only 'all-black' duck — increased sightings of the common scoter

Global warming, offshore windfarms and oil spills haven't helped the situation but the latest numbers are somewhat positive

A male common scoter, Melanitta nigra: this is our only all-black duck

The common scoter is our only all-black duck. ‘Rafts’ of scoters spend the winter off our shores, diving for molluscs out beyond the breaking waves. But their numbers have been declining here and in Britain. 

Climate change isn’t helping. Global warming may force our breeding scoters to shift northwards.