This black and white diving duck is a winter visitor to the loughs, lochs and shallow inshore waters of the UK.
Scaup begin arriving in Britain & Ireland during the second half of October from breeding grounds in Iceland, Scandinavia and western Russia. Numbers continue to build throughout the winter months and, as might be expected, birds from the western part of their range largely occur in western Britain and those from the east in eastern Britain.
The Wetland Bird Survey shows that around 3,000 Scaup winter in the UK with the largest gatherings found in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Individuals begin to head back to their breeding grounds in March. Breeding occurs in the UK only sporadically, only involving one or two pairs in any given year.
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Dabbling ducks are so familiar, but there is also a group of common ducks that actively dive on freshwater for food. One or other is likely to be encountered on still or moving freshwater or even at sea so let this workshop help you to decide which diving duck you are seeing.
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Scaup occupy a wide range of coastal and inland areas, though the greatest numbers are found on the coast in northern and western Britain and northeastern and southwestern Ireland.
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011. More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011. More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Scaup winter range has exanded by 57% since the 1981–84 Winter Atlas with gains in some coastal areas, including the Northern Isles, Moray Firth and southwest England, and also at inland sites. This contrasts with a marked population reduction, especially in Ireland.
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution Change 1968–72 to 2008–11. More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution Change 1981–84 to 2007–11 More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK
% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)
Scaup is a localised winter visitor, present from September to March, though some birds occasionally summer.
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
SCAUP 
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