Yes to the Common Eider but first as I was driving through the Satsop Valley headed toward Westport I saw a Crow flying along the side of the highway toward me. ?To my amazement just before we passed each other, for no apparent reason, the crow did a snap roll, a very fast 360 degree roll. ?It happened so fast it left we thinking did I really see that but I did. ?I've never seen a bird do a roll but if it was going to happen I'm not surprised that it was a Crow. ?I saw one fly sideways along a light standard to make room for a friend or mate and another fly backwards for the same reason I guess about all that's left is inverted flight. ?Crows often seem to do things just because they can.

So I arrived at Westport around 11 AM. ?The wind was blowing about 15 Kts, temp was 47, ?and there was a 2 ft ?chop so the birds that were there tended to get lost in the waves. ?After searching the area thats been previously posted I didn't find the Eider so I took a break and looked for the Tropical Kingbird which I never did find. ?So I headed back to the resort area and ran into Igor the videographer in the parking lot. ?He told me where to find the bird and I followed him through the marina and out onto the causeway to the walk that runs out to the breakwater. ?When we arrived the bird had come into the the calm water just on the inside of the breakwater on the side where the causeway joins the breakwater. ?Apparently it came in to bathe. ?We found it splashing around in the calm water getting wet and doing the wing walk thing coming partly out of the water then diving back in for more splashing. ?After awhile bath was over and it settled
in to preen first on the water then hauled out and stood on the rocks for even better views. ?The views were absolutely beautiful and I suspect the best yet seen. ?Igor got great movies and another couple from Portland took great pictures. ?(Sorry I was so intent on watch the duck I forgot to get their names. ?She said she hoped to post some pictures and I believe she said it was bird 399. ?How about that? ?They had also failed to find the Wilson's as had others so it may indeed be gone.) ?After preening the Eider hopped back in the water and paddled out to the opening then flew 100 or so yards directly in front of the breakwater and began diving again. ?It appears that this bird has settled in like the Queen Eider at Damion Pt. did last Winter. ?

Now I have a question. ?Is it a male or female? ?I think it was?originally?posted as a female but someone now thinks its a first year male. ?Generally I think it looks more like the first year male in Sibley but it's a lighter shade of brown.?

There was an enormous flock of A.Wigeons, N.Pintails and Gadwalls in the shallow water bay on the north side of the last bridge before you make the Westport turn. ?The one that has the Oyster place on the far side. ?By enormous I mean 10,000 or more ducks. ?There were ducks stretched out around 12 deep for a half mile or more. ?I may have seen that many peeps at one time but never so many bigger birds. ?It was very impressive. ?


There were more duck hunters than ducks at John's River so I didn't hang around but I did see a?Collared?Dove land in a tree on the way back to 105. ?

The?Hoquiam?sewage ponds was mixed duck stew. ?A.Wigeon's, both Scaups, Ring Necks, a few Mallards, one Bufflehead (FOS), Canada Geese and a large?contingent?of N.Shovelers were present along with the usual flock of Xgulls but nothing unusual. ?A N.Flicker was seen on the Dept of Wildlife building side. ? ?

On the way back I stopped at the wetlands behind the rental place at Elma. ?I don't know if it even has a name. It's a Department of Wildlife preserve and his?heavily?hunted and it's huge but never really birdy for some reason. ?Lots of Marsh Wrens were calling, a male Kingfisher was diving in one of the many ponds, a small flock of Ring Necks were swimming but were very skittish and flushed easily. Lots of shotgun shells on the ground may have been a leading indicator of why. ?The most interesting find was a very dark Red Tailed Hawk one of there red tails I saw patrolling the valley. ?Great birding day. ?


?
Ray Holden
Olympia, WA

Life is for the birds.