Ground Monitoring of Common Scoter Melinitta nigra in Carmarthen Bay (2010 - 2011) dataset https://portal.medin.org.uk/portal/start.php?tpc=007_NRW_DS114189 Carmarthen Bay Spatial Protection Area (SPA) was classified as the UK's first SPA in 2003 on the basis of holding at least 1% (16,000 individuals) of the biogeographic population of Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra). The Common Scoter is strongly migratory and often travels considerable distances over land making brief stop-overs on inland waters. Its diet consists predominantly of molluscs, especially during the winter, although it occasionally takes other aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans (e.g. barnacles and shrimps), worms, echinoderms, isopods, amphipods and insects (e.g. midges and caddis flies) as well as small fish and fish eggs which are found in abundance in the shallow water in Carmarthen Bay. Common scoter are also listed as a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species. Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has supported ground based counts since 1996, following the Sea Empress oil spill. This work feeds in to the condition monitoring and surveillance of Carmarthen Bay SPA and contributes to Common Standards Monitoring. 20110331