> Surf Scoter 8-9,000 nearly all adult males
> White-winged Scoter 2,000 " " " "
> Black Scoter 500 " " " "
> Long-tailed Duck 12 10m 2f
> Common Murre 5

Interesting. This is a typical scoter assemblage for the Qualicum Beach
side of Vancouver I. in November. Wonder what the attraction is in Burrard
Inlet all of a sudden? Incidentally, Black Scoters are the only scoter species
that "sings". Actually croons is the better word. When you get a whole bunch
going it is really quite eerie. It is a mellow hollow whistling about the same
pitch as the cooing of a Rock Dove but in two separate phrases, the first
with an ascending part and the second descending. They may have already
paired off, though, and singing decreased. This is audible for quite a
distance.

- Jack


Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca