Carena Pooth photographed a female Surf Scoter at Sylvan Lake Sunday afternoon (11/10) near a private dock along Sylvan Lake Road.  Herb Thompson and Eamon Freiburger also observed the bird. Per  The Birds of Dutchess County the Surf Scoter is a transient visitor to Dutchess County, and there are only 11 county records.  Records note 1-8 birds except in 1976 when 80 were seen among 250 White-winged Scoter at Tivoli.

 RT Waterman Field Trip participants were reported to have observed 2 Scoters  at Sylvan Lake yesterday.  They were seen along the opposite shore and hard to  see even with zoomed in scopes.   Some saw some white on the face, and  the consensus was they were probably White-winged Scoter.  Also seen at Sylvan were many Ruddy Ducks, some Ring-necked Ducks, and  Lesser Scaup.

All sightings were from the DEC fishing access area on Sylvan Lake Rd., Hopewell Junction, NY.

UPDATE – Two Surf Scoters were photographed near a private beach west of the DEC Fishing Access Area on Sylvan Lake Road on 11/13 by Deb Tracy-Kral.

Update: 11/14/13  The Surf Scoters continue to be seen at Sylvan Lake near the DEC parking area.