6 
Sundell, R. A. 
P® 881 " 
October 17— Ken and I took a mid-morning survey around the island 
(9 a.m., as opposed to 10 a.m. yesterday): Wedge-tailed Shearwater 
eight; Red-tailed Tropicbird 1 adult (disappeared headed south out to sea); 
White-capped Roddy three (one 
immature calling comnuously and exhibiting 
begging behavior toward all nearby birds, even Common Noddies); 
Golden Plover 20+; Great Frigateblrd 1504- (two dl f with inflated threat 
puches noted, one on small island, one on top of main island); Sooty 
Tern twelve. 
We banded ten cf and two 9 frlgatebirds, our highest total for 
sane time, in addition to about 35 Common Noddies. 
October 18—In the early afternoon several members of the crew repeated 
seeing a duck on the water near the boat dock. Ken and I invstigated 
and found an eclipse plumage cf or ? Pintail. It seemed to be In good 
shape although we were able to approach to within 25 to 50 feet of the 
bird as it swam close to the shore between the dock and the seaplane 
ramp. The slim build but large body, slender neck and the speculum 
(green with rust orange on the leading margin and a white stripe along 
k f ; > * ! t ! if * ; . * ? <- i ; 
the trailing margin) were all closely Observed through the binoculars 
at close range in perfect light conditions. The bird was last seen 
by Winchell who reported it swimming east about half way along the 
causeway sometime after 2 p.ra. The bird could not be collected 
because all the crew members were busy preparing for the late afternoon 
visit of Rear Admiral Knapp, Commandant, l4th Coast Guard District, and 
about a dozen civilians from Honolulu. 
As Ken and I were working in the pump house about 3 p.m. a Wandering 
Tattler came walking in. Ken scared it out but it went only a very short 
