**24. Common Goldeneye ( Bucephala 
clangula (Linnaeus)) 
This goldeneye is a common summer 
resident and migrant. The species may 
be found in a variety of habitats, in¬ 
cluding Lake Superior and the harbors 
of Isle Royale, the inland lakes, and 
around the lake shore and beaches. 
Broods are commonly seen on the shel¬ 
tered harbors and the larger inland 
lakes throughout the summer. The first 
published account was in 1924 when 
flocks were observed by William Fargo 
and F.M. and A.M. Baumgartner (7) . 
Laurence Dayton also noted the species 
as common in the fall of 1936 and 
spring of 1937 (21). During the 1940's 
and early 1950 f s it was reported by 
many investigators to be distributed 
in all parts of the island (27,29,30, 
35,36). Four of these ducks were also 
observed in early August 1963 ( 34) . 
25. Bufflehead ( Bucephala 
albeola (Linnaeus)) 
The bufflehead is a common migrant 
that frequents Lake Superior and the 
harbors of Isle Royale as well as the 
inland lakes. Paired birds have been 
seen on occasion, but no young have been 
reported. Flocks were reported in the 
1920's, and small numbers were observed 
during the 1930's (21) . During the 1940's 
and in 1950 the species was regarded as 
a common spring and fall migrant (29, 
30,35,36,38). In 1962 Shelton saw small 
flocks of buffleheads five times be¬ 
tween May 12 and 20, and twice in the 
fall, October 25, and December 6 to 11. 
In the last observation, three birds 
were seen 5 consecutive days between 
Washington and Barnum Islands (39). 
26. Oldsquaw ( Clangula hyemalis 
(Linnaeus)) 
The oldsquaw is a common fall and 
spring migrant and is observed most of¬ 
ten on the large harbors of Isle Royale 
or on Lake Superior. The species appears 
in the spring soon after the breakup 
and apparently goes back north by late 
May or early June. During the 1930's 
and 1940's these ducks were observed 
on numerous occasions, usually in rafts 
(21,27,29,30,36). On a single field 
trip to the island in May 1948, 280 
were tallied in the open water surround¬ 
ing Isle Royale ( 36) . Flocks of at least 
100 birds each were observed in the 
open water around Wright's Island in 
Lake Superior in the spring of 1950 
(35). Shelton's earliest fall observa¬ 
tion was September 26, 1961, and the 
latest spring observation was May 27, 
1962 (39). 
27. White-winged Scoter (Melanitta 
deglandi (Bonaparte)) 
The white-winged scoter is a common 
migrant in the spring and fall. It oc¬ 
curs most often in the open waters 
surrounding Isle Royale, seldom in 
flocks of more than 20 birds. Between 
April 1935 and May 1950 the species was 
reported on several occasions, and the 
largest flock contained about 20 (21, 
29,30,35,36). On June 8, 1962, Shelton 
noted about 12 birds in Siskiwit Bay. 
His only fall record was one bird seen 
November 23, 1962 ( 39) . 
28. Common Scoter (Oidemia nigra 
(Linnaeus)) 
This scoter is a rare migrant, 
and the literature contains only one 
reference. According to Roberts (16) 
L.0. Dart observed "quite a number in 
groups of two to five" along the shore 
of Isle Royale between Tobin Harbor 
and Washington Harbor on June 8, 1905. 
29. Ruddy Duck ( Oxyura jamaicensis 
(Gmelin)) 
This species was reported only 
once: Laurence Dayton listed it on 
May 16, 1937 (21). 
**30. Hooded Merganser ( Lophodytes 
cucullatus (Linnaeus)) 
The hooded merganser is an un¬ 
common summer resident (more common 
migrant) and most often occurs on the 
inland lakes and on beaver ponds and 
streams. It nests on the island, and 
23 
