Subject: [Tweeters] Pelagic birds off Restoration Point,
Date: Jun 18 15:26:12 2011
From: Joseph Evenson - jrevenson at comcast.net


They are most likely non-breeding aged surf scoters (SY and 3Y). They
breeding adult females should be at nests now, and the breeding aged adult
males should be mostly on the post-breeding marine areas in northern Canada
and Alaska.

We do have non-breeding SUSC at various marine locations throughout the
state during the summer. They may be beginning to molt but it seems early,
especially if most of them appeared the same (you might have a few beginning
to molt, but perhaps not the entire group, did they fly?). Molt more
typically begins mid-late July and goes through mid-September.

You can view the WDFW web site for more info on the Puget Sound scoters:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/projects/waterfowl/puget_sound_scot
ers/

There is a link on this site to the telemetry results:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/research/projects/waterfowl/puget_sound_scot
ers/surf_scoter_locations.html

-Joe Evenson