Tweeters,

I just returned from Port Angeles where Bob Norton and I relocated the
Common Eider at 11:30 this morning. Unfortunately the bird swam behind a
tanker from our view point on Ediz Hook and then disappeared.
I had called Brad Waggoner shortly after seeing the bird at 11:30 and he
arrived at 2:00 pm. We then resumed searching and relocated the C. Eider
at the Port of Port Angeles docking area which is 1/2 mile west of the Black
Ball Ferry Terminal. The Eider was sitting on a log boom preening. Brad and
I had point-blank looks from 20 yards with our scopes. I have a series of
digi-scope photos that I would be glad to send to anyone who wants to see the
bird, or if someone has a website I could post them on, I would be glad to do
that. There was no sign of any bands on the legs. From our analysis it
appeared to be a male in molt of the subspecies v-nigrum, the only form to have
the orange bill.
Also, if Michael Shepard would send me his e-mail I would be glad to
send him the photos, too. Kudos to Michael for finding and IDing the Eider.
Thanks. Feel free to call or write if more details are needed. The bird was
also seen earlier this morning at the Pilot House on Ediz Hook. Apparently a
seal spooked it and it flew to the log jams at the base of the spit near the
Nippon Paper Mill. So, if it is not in sight when you arrive, look in all
the nooks and crannies and log booms where it might hide. Good luck.

George Gerdts
_geopandion at aol.com_ (mailto:geopandion at aol.com)
206-842-8138