Hi Tweets,

Jack Bowling and I found the male Common Eider Somateria mollisima, race
v-nigra (v-nigrum in Madge & Burns' Waterfowl guide), as in a mixed-scoter
flock yesterday between the two breakwaters at Ambleside Park in West
Vancouver, just across the First Narrows from Stanley Park. We had visited
along the possible locations along the S side of Burrard Inlet, West Spanish
Banks, Bayswater, Kitsilano, then over to Stanley Park. Finally located it
about a mile west on the N side of the Inlet by scoping across the Narrows
from the lookout on Prospect Point in the park. Drove across the Lion's Gate
Bridge to Ambleside and got close-up looks at it. Beee-yutiful!

The big guy now seems to be a definitively plumaged drake in high Alternate
plumage or, to use Jack's word, "immaculate." Jack also pointed out the thin
black 'V' (v-nigra, right?) under the chin was fully present and easily
visible against the white chin whenever the bird tossed its head or preened
oil onto its feathers.

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)