I was in Kansas City MO when this bird was first reported, and today was my first chance to look for it. After dithering about the weather this morning, I finally made a run for it, arriving at Semiahmoo about 11:30 am. I searched all over for about an hour and a half. I was pretty disappointed not to see him, but enjoyed the close views of the variety of other waterbirds. Then I was consoling myself by watching the Black Turnstones. There were approximately 75, in what appeared to be two flocks, divided roughly into 25 and 50 plus. They would flock together and then separate, then come back together, etc. They played follow-the-leader along a log, and then spread out along the shoreline, all the time twittering and chattering. It was quite the show. I glanced up at the float, and the Eider had appeared from nowhere! I watched him for about a half an hour. First he sat on the float, twitching his wings, and appeared to be breathing heavily. He preened some, and then hopped back into the water. He dove several times, coming up with mussels which he swallowed, along with what appeared to be some seaweed. He seemed fine at that point.

I had to leave him at about 1:30 pm, as I had a dinner date with my dad in Seattle.

Kristin Stewart
Olympia WA
kristinstewart01 at comcast.net