Whilst a Spectacled Eider drew crowds from far and beyond to Texel another duck tried to entertain the crowds in the south of the country. It couldn't rely on its name, starting with common, nor it's plumage being all black so what could he do to compensate?
Well, normally they stay far at sea in large flocks, so there he wouldn't stand out either. So it had to change the podium and get close to shore. But what then, flapping it's wings? Maybe a John Travolta dance move like in Pulp Fiction? ... No Melanitta nigra had to think out of the box.
Normally they have a diet of small crabs, mussels, clamps all relative easy to swallow, but swallowing swords!
Yes our Common Scoter had found his unique thing, let's swallow Atlantic Jacknives or also known as Razor Clamps that will be a neat trick.
For weeks on end he did his show but only a handful of observers only gave him a one minute look. Disappointed he decided to leave on a rainy winters day, not knowing one photographer wanted to see him perform one more time but now in the spotlight of the winter sun...
Therefore we only have the B&W photos from a cold grey winter day of Melanitta the Sward Swallower
