BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



49 



Lake, St. Croix County, on 18 October 1974. I observed a female at Amery, 

 Polk County, on 9 November 1976. 



Surf Scoter {Melanitta perspicillata) 

 Status: Casual, three records. 



Records: A single surf scoter was observed at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, 

 Burnett County, on 5 October 1974. On 6 October 1974, two birds were shot 

 from a group of four at Crex Meadows by J. O. Evrard. Photos were taken of 

 the two birds. B. A. Moss observed a flock of six surf scoters on Deer Lake, 

 Polk County, on 30 October 1975. 



Black Scoter {Melanitta nigra) 

 Status: Casual, two records. 



Records: A female black scoter was observed on West Twin Lake near 

 Roberts, St. Croix County, on 18 October 1974 (Faanes and Goddard 1976). 

 On 1 January 1977, I observed a female black scoter with a group of black 

 ducks and mallards at the mouth of the Kinnickinnic River, Pierce County 

 (Lien and Lien 1977). 



Ruddy Duck {Oxyura jamaicensis) 



Status: Regular migrant and nesting species, accidental in winter. 



Migration: Fairly common migrant in the Western Upland and Central 

 Plain, rare and local in the Northern Highland. Goddard (1975) reported that 

 ruddy ducks constituted 1% of the total spring waterfowl population and 

 2.2% of the diving duck population in St. Croix County. Ruddy ducks are the 

 latest arriving waterfowl species in spring. The average arrival date is 

 10 April in St. Croix County and 25 April at Crex Meadows, Burnett County 

 (earliest dates— 24 March 1976, St. Croix County and 4 April 1948, Burnett 

 County). Peak spring populations in St. Croix, Polk, and Washington coun- 

 ties occur 25 April to 10 May; departure of nonbreeding birds is by 20 May. 

 Fall migration begins in early September and peak numbers occur 25 Sep- 

 tember to 15 October. The largest groups recorded during fall migration 

 range from 25 to 30 birds per wetland. Departure from this region occurs by 

 1 November (latest— 27 November 1967, Washington County). 



Nesting Season Distribution: Uncommon and local breeding duck on prairie 

 wetlands of St. Croix, Polk, and Washington counties. These breeding popu- 

 lations occur in pockets of high density wetlands in the respective counties. 

 Peterson (1978) reported that ruddy ducks made up < 1% of the total breed- 

 ing duck population in St. Croix and Polk counties. Three brood records 

 have been obtained at Crex Meadows, two in 1973 and one in 1974. 



Winter: One ruddy duck was observed on the Afton CBC on 22 December 

 1956. 



