Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca
The Velvet Scoter is mainly an offshore species in Sweden being found in relatively small numbers in the southern coastal areas in winter. The only place where larger flocks can be seen close to the shore is Laholmsbukten and Skälderviken in southern Kattegatt.
In January 2019 8765 Vedlvet Scoters were counted at the midwinter counts (from the shore), which is trhe highest total recorded since the start. The majority (about 90%) were found in Laholmsbukten in Kattegatt on the west coast. The January trend was positive, whereas the September trend was negative.
The estimate for the total population of Velvet Scoter is 450 000 - 500 000 individuals (Wetlands international http://wpe.wetlands.org ). If this is correct about 1,5 - 2 % of the population is found in Laholmsbukten, which accordingly qualifies as a site of international importance according to the Ramsaar convention.
The estimated totals of Velvet Scoter in different areas of the Swedish part of the Baltic according to aerial surveys in offshore waters.
| OMRÅDE | 2007 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2016 |
| Falsterbohalvön | 180 | 0 | 250 | 90 | 940 |
| Skåne sydkust | 10 | 0 | 0 | 70 | |
| Skåne sydost | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Hanöbukten | 3240 | 60 | 330 | 420 | |
| Blekinge ytterzon | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kalmarsund | 870 | 30 | 325 | 13 | 0 |
| Öland ostkust | 1850 | 0 | 0 | 60 | |
| Ölands norra grund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midsjöbankarna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Hoburgs Bank | 0 | 0 | 350 | 0 | |
| Gotlands ostkust | 0 | 1075 | 100 | ||
| Gotska sandön mm | 0 | 0 | |||
| Gotlands Västkust (land) | 0 | ||||
| Kalmar skärg | Is | 0 | |||
| Österg skärg | Is | 0 | |||
| Sörml. Skärg | Is | 0 | |||
| Stockholms skärg | Is | 0 | |||
| Upplands kust | Is | 0 | |||
| Gävlebukten | Is | 0 | |||
| TOTALSUMMA | 6150 | 90 | 575 | 1858 | 1590 |
The west coast of Sweden was only counted in 2009, when one aerial survey was made. Scoters were found in the traditional areas in rhe southern part of Kattegatt in numbers estimated below.
|
| Estimated population | |
|
| Skälderviken | Laholmsbukten |
| 4500 | 11000 | |
| Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca | 1320 | 1120 |
| Melanitta sp | 750 | 1310 |
| TOTAL | 6580 | 13430 |