Tweeters,

Sunday morning I began a search for the recently reported King Eider at
Ocean Shores. I took the few-hundred yard walk from the Ocean Shores Sewage
Treatment Plant, finding the sandy 2-track between the two houses closest to
the northwest fence corner of the sewage plant. This track meanders east to
the steel tower overlooking the inlet in the Oyhut Wildlife Refuge. Along
the way, I had super views of an adult male Peregrine Falcon. Arriving at
the low bluff overlooking the bay, I scoped the loose flock of scoters
(White-winged and Surf, Blacks were south of the jetty end a couple hundred
yards south) and was pleased to find the KING EIDER female reported by
British birders a few weeks ago. I found the "Queen Eider" in the same spot
the Brits reported it. This is not the area of pilings where it was
routinely seen last winter, that area accessed from the beach access
opposite the concrete water tank on Marine View Drive.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie at nwinfo.net