COMMON SCOTER, B&W, tinted (first North American record!)

[Dan Brown]

This is a black and white produced using Topaz Simplify 4. I exposed the color on the Scoter's bill with a mask. I added the chop on it's own layer.

FYI, This bird (Male Common Scoter) was discovered about 2 weeks ago in the Crescent City Harbor, Humboldt County, CA. It is the first record for this European species in North America outside of Greenland! The weather has been pretty lousy on the North Coast, so all of my pix of the bird were shot at extremely high ISO's (this one was 14,300!) so they are all very noisy, hence the OOTB treatment.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hey Dan, we'll take your high ISO images any day! I like the brush and ink look and the addition of the chop rounds it out nicely. Seems you and Paul got to see some pretty cool birds recently!

[Dan Brown]

Hey Dan, we'll take your high ISO images any day! I like the brush and ink look and the addition of the chop rounds it out nicely. Seems you and Paul got to see some pretty cool birds recently!

Thanks, Kerry! Yes Paul and I did have a fun day but unfortunately this bird didn't show up in time for Paul to chase it or he would have!

[Paul Lagasi]

Cool bird, lovely effect...I wish this Scoter would have gotten lost 3 weeks ago. Kerry, Dan and I only had the one day but I guarantee it won't be the last one. If this bird sticks, I may try and get back out there. But I think right now, the east coasts Eurasian Kestrel and Fieldfare are calling me. Then Texas is really lighting up the birder world...who know where I should go. But I will drive back out that way in August....

[Anita Bower]

Your processing took care of any high ISO problems. Looks good in B & W with that bit of color in the bill--looks natural, but then, I don't know what color this bird is in real life. I also like the suggestions of water. I might crop a bit off the bottom, eliminating the lowest dark blobs, and raising your chop. What fun, for you, to photograph this bird.

[Diane Miller]

I love the watercolor treatment! And the B/W with the touch of colors is very pleasing!

[Arthur Morris]

Neat. What are the field marks?

[Dan Brown]

Neat. What are the field marks?

Artie, here's a pic. This bird reminds me of a cross between White-winged and Black Scoters! It has all black plumage. The upper mandible has a large hump at the base with an orange area just below it. BTW, this bird was discovered in the Crescent City Harbor on 1-25-15 and hung around till 2-13-15. He hasn't been seen since.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Dan. It is all about the bill. a