FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 101 



On the evening of May 26, as we were going back out through Nushagak 

 Bay, we observed flock after flock of white-winged scoters flying high in 

 the air in goose-like formation, all heading up the bay in a general 'inland' 

 direction. Some flocks contained 75 or 100 birds. It appeared that we were 

 witnessing a movement, en masse, from a temporary salt-water meeting 

 place to the inland nesting grounds. 



Melanitta perspicillata: Surf Scoter 



We observed this bird in considerable numbers in the spring, 

 on the way to the Aleutians, along the coast of southeastern 

 Alaska. They (apparently all males) were particularly numerous 

 on the south side of Millbank Sound on April 25, 1936. One 

 large flock arose from the water and strung out for a mile. 

 It must have contained at least 1,000 birds. There were other 

 smaller flocks. We saw 4 or 5 of these birds at Port Chatham, 

 Kenai Peninsula, on May 6, which was the last sighting. 



Surf scoters are known to occur at Kodiak Island. Cahalane 

 (1944) says: "All of the surf scoters seen were on the Shelikof 

 Strait coast of Katmai National Monument, Oct. 4 to 7. They 

 were 'common' in Kinak Bay, but were abundant from Katmai 

 to Amalik Bay and in Kaflia and Kukak Bays." Gabrielson also 

 observed them at Kodiak in early spring and fall. 



Laing (1925) observed these birds in spring as far west as 

 Dolgoi Island, south side of Alaska Peninsula, but he saw none 

 west of there. 



On July 23, 1940, Gabrielson noted four old males up the 

 Kvichak River, and in winter he saw a few at Unimak. 



Wetmore (manuscript notes) reported, "A small flock of 

 scoters, that I took to be this species, was seen June 4 in Lost 

 Harbor, on Akun Island, and others were seen June 10 and 11, 

 in Chernofski Harbor (Unalaska Island)." He reported none 

 west of that point. 



Dall (1873), referring to the surf scoter under the name 

 Melanitta velvetina, says: "Killed Oct 27th, 1871, at Unalaska, 

 and noticed at intervals there during the winter. It was not 

 seen at the Shumagins, though it may occur there. A winter 

 visitor." 



Beals and Longworth reported a single male as False Pass 

 on March 1, 1941, remarking that they saw this bird on several 

 occasions. 



Cahn observed 3 scoters at Captain's Bay, Unalaska Island, 

 April 3, 1943, and saw 1 on March 16, 1945 ; Taber saw 1 at Adak, 

 December 14, 16, and 23, 1945. 



