I was at Westport yesterday for several hours in
the morning trying to find the Common Eider - went
to numerous places checking entire area in marina
and outside into the ocean without luck. Met
several others there who had similar results.
There were very few birds around (other than the
MANY gulls and Brown Pelicans), several Common
Loons in various plumages, all Cormorants, Horned
and Western Grebes, a Common Murre and fly bys of
a number of Surf Scoters. One group of Scoters
(far out near buoy 4) had an odd companion that
was not a female Surf Scoter and I tried to make
into the Eider but definitely not a good enough
view to even pretend. There was also a single
duck in the breakwater near the resort that I am
working on (but definitely not an eider) and hope
to figure out soon.

Weather was clear for a while but that followed
rain and then very heavy rain later. Pretty cold
as well (low forties) even without the wind
chill. I have seen hundreds of Common Eiders in
Maine but sorry to miss what would have been a
Washington first. Hope it returns.

--
Blair Bernson
Edmonds