Smithsonian "Birds of North America" has a tiny drawing that shows a white belly on a juvy Harlequin. I'm also wondering if Jennifer is sure that her birds couldn't be a pair of adult females.

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah

On Aug 15, 2013, at 2:49 PM, Steve Loitz wrote:

> Do juvy Harlequins have white undersides?
>
> FWIW, the majority of ducks I see in Cascades semi-alpine lakes in the summer are Barrow's Goldeneyes. I'm delighted when I see a Harlequin at a high lake. Seems that we see more Harlequins flying over streams.
>
> Steve Loitz
> Seattle, WA
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Larry Schwitters <leschwitters at me.com> wrote:
> Wayne,
>
> Wondering why you left Harlequin Duck off your list of possible species.
>
> Larry Schwitters
> Issaquah
> On Aug 15, 2013, at 12:30 PM, Wayne Weber wrote:
>
>> Jennifer and Tweeters,
>>
>> Black Scoters would be impossible on a Cascade mountain lake in August. The species doesn?t breed in British Columbia, let alone in Washington.
>>
>> What about young Barrow?s Goldeneyes? The habitat is perfect for them, although they may be an uncommon breeder that far south. Downy young of Barrow?s Goldeneyes, Common Goldeneyes, and Buffleheads all have blackish heads with contrasting white cheeks and throats. Without an adult female present, the young of these 3 species are so similar that they are hard to tell from each other. However, in the area you describe, Barrow?s Goldeneye would be the most likely of those 3 species.
>>
>> Wayne C. Weber
>> Delta, BC
>> contopus at telus.net
>>
>>
>>
>> From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Jennifer DeSelle
>> Sent: August-15-13 9:30 AM
>> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> Subject: [Tweeters] Juvenile black scoters?
>>
>> I just got back from backpacking in the Indian Heaven Wilderness, Gifford Pinchot Nat'l Forest. We camped on Junction Lake, which is a small, shallow lake at 4,700 feet. Over 2 days we were able to observe 2 juvenile ducks on this lake. I could not identify them in the field. I did not have my camera but took notes. When we got home we began researching, only discover that our ducks look exactly like juvenile Black Scoters, which should not be down here during the summer. They had the dark head, prominent white cheek, and white undersides. We observed them diving and eating insects flying over the water by snapping at them. They did not fly at all but would "test" their wings, bucking up and revealing their white breast/bellies. Could these be Black Scoters? Does anyone have any other ideas?
>>
>> Jennifer DeSelle
>> Olympia, WA
>> jendeselle at yahoo.com
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> Steve Loitz
> Seattle, WA
> steveloitz at gmail.com