Len Blumin's photostream  

Rear view of the male Black Scoter spending time at the Richmond Marina, where many birders have have great views.

This individual was calling frequently to the nearby female Greater Scaups, with a mellow and plaintive whistled note that sounds something like "cour-looo" - said to be the most melodious call in the duck family. The characteristics of the call are different from the call of the Common Scoter of Europe, and along with differences in the bill led to their split into 2 species by the AOU in 2010. Our Black Scoter is now Melanitta americana, and they have the Common Scoter, Melanitta nigra.

Typical side view of the male Black Scoter, showing the large orange-yellow knob at the base of the bill. Everything else on this bird is black, including the eyes and feet!

This is the least common of the 4 Scoter species, and tends to winter more to the northern coastal waters, where they feed on mollusks and crustaceans. It is also the only totally black duck seen in North America.

This Pied-billed Grebe is perhaps starting to transition into alternate plumage.

This shot of an Eared Grebe in basic plumage shows most of the important field marks that distinguish it from the Horned Grebe, including the steep forehead, peak of crown above and in front of the eye, dusky or "dirty" neck, dark auriculars framed by a white crescent behind, and a bill with a flat culmen. Photo taken at Garrettson Point, MLK Regional Shoreline Park, Oakland, CA.

Same bird that was eating the apple. The mostly red malar stripe is shaded here, but we get a good view of the red crescent or chevron shape on the nape, indicating as least some genes of the Yellow-shafted race.