Hi Tweets -
This morning [8/5] the Common Eider was at about the same place as
described by Russell Rogers at 12:15 and [on WA Bird-Box] by Stephen
Mlodinow at ~3:00. It seems to be sticking in the same general area,
so I'd definitely check this place first if you want to give it a try.

Directions:
Coming through town from E to W on hwy 101, you'll be on the one-way
Front Street. As others have said, the place to look from is about
1/2 mile west of the ferry dock. The nearest cross street is Cherry.
From the T-intersection of Front & Cherry, look for the blue
observation platform near the water. I believe almost all of us have
been seeing the bird from this area, looking west.

Between 9 & 10 am, the Eider stayed nearby, occasionally making
short dives or dabbling for food, but mostly just paddling around and
preening. It was very easy to get great scope views of it. Keith
Brady & Bob Morse were there at the same time and may have some
pictures to offer. In the meantime, the nonbreeding male in the
bigger Sibley's seems to be the best guide photo approximation -
differences being that the 2-tone head color was more obvious, and
the amount of white on the back was greater than I'd have assumed
looking at Sibley.


I spent the remainder of the day on a bit of wild-gull chase,
deciding a bit irrationally to drive on down to North Cove to try for
the BT Gull. No luck, as others have reported, but plenty of other
Heerman's & California's for it to have been hiding out amongst.

Good birding,

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA



>Tweeters,
>
>The Common Eider at Port Angeles was an extraordinarily easy find to
>day at 12:15. It was sitting on the floating logs west of the ferry
>dock.
>
>Russell
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>--------------------------
>Russell Rogers, Mary Moore, Emily Rogers, and Willie Rogers
>219 South Second Ave
>Sequim WA 98382
>(360) 582-5781
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>--------------------------


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