I had a nice day in Blaine yesterday in the howling wind. I found the
EIDER right where everyone says it's been, in the company of scoters
and barrows goldeneyes (with one common) and ringnecks and common
loons and cormorants. There were also a herd of about 20 pintails,
which I was glad to see because at least where I've been looking
they're waaaaay down this year.

At Birch Bay state park I found a couple dozen harlequins, hundreds of
scoters and common goldeneyes, a BRANT and possibly a group of 3
beyond it but with 3' waves the birds were hard to follow, plus bald
eagle, and a few buffleheads and some kind of scaup mixed in.

and at marine park in Blaine there were horned and western grebes and
a female LONG-TAIL DUCK on the calm side of the long dock. That was a
treat, she was close up and the water was smooth and it was sunny, and
so it was a far better look than I've had before at a long-tail.
Usually they're way out there bobbing and hard to see.

On the way up there were a couple dozen snow geese at exits 232 and
221 but no large flocks visible.

-- jerry