Greater Scaup or Scaup is a small diving duck. It breeds on
the ground by lakes and bogs on the tundra and at the
northern limits of the boreal forest across the Arctic and
sub-arctic regions of northern North America, Europe and
Asia. Its name appears to have several origins; It may come
from its display call 'scaup-scaup', or perhaps from the
Scottish word 'scalp' referring to a bed of mussels from
its habit of feeding on shellfish. Some historical names for
Scaup include; Green-headed Diver, Blue Neb, Grey-backed
Curre, Dun Bird and Covie Duck.
There have been around forty Scaup reported from S.
Gloucestershire;
2010: (1)
A
drake was noted off New Passage in the afternoon on December
2nd.
2006: (4)
Four 1st winter's were seen off Severn Beach on September
3rd.
2001: (2)
Two, a male and female were located on October 29th off
Northwick Warth.
1999: (2)
Two, a male and female were located on August 28th off
Severn Beach.
1997: (4)
A
male was seen on January 3rd off New Passage; Three males
were watched on February 4th off Severn Beach in flight
heading north.
1994: (3)
One, a female was found on August 13th off Severn Beach and
remained in the area until August 16th; On October 1st a
female was seen off Severn Beach and was present until
October 7th; A male was found on December 24th off Severn
Beach.
1993: (1)
A
female was noted on August 18th off Severn Beach.
1992: (1)
On February 12th a male was watched in flight heading south
off Aust Warth.
1991: (1)
On October 11th a female was found off Aust Warth.
1989: (1)
One, a female was located on October 19th off New Passage,
it was present until October 30th.
1988: (6)
Four, all males were seen on July 8th at New Passage, all
four were present until July 11th with two remaining until
July 13th; One, a female was seen on October 29th at Severn
Beach, it was joined by a second female on October 31st and
both were present until November 20th.
1987: (2)
Two, a male and female were noted on April 19th off Severn
Beach.
1986: (6) HIGHEST COUNT 6
Six were sighted on March 1st off Severn Beach, the party
included five males. This remains the regions highest count.
1985: (1)
On September 7th an individual was found off Northwick
Warth.
1980: (3)
Three females were identified off Northwick Warth and Severn
Beach and were present from October 26th until November 2nd
with two lingering until December 8th.
1972: (1)
A
male was reported from Littleton Pits on April 2nd.
1938: (1)
On April 25th one was observed at Severn Beach and remained
in the area until May 1st. This occurrence constitutes the
first report of this species in S. Gloucestershire.