Birds

» Timbre Beck-Murphy - Did you here about the Eider spotted along our coast last year?

Biologists, professors and other scientists lined our Pebble Beach Drive (not the one in So. Cal -- 16 hours south) with spotting scopes last year when an eider vacationed here. Did you get the scoop on it? I got to see it a couple of times, and it was definitely something I'd never seen before. Can we expect it again this year? Where did it come from?
Thanks,
Timbre

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» Rosemary Drisdelle - Did you here about the Eider spotted along our coast last year?

In response to Did you here about the Eider spotted along our coast last year? posted by TimbreLynn:

Hi Timbre,

Eiders are birds of the north, even remaining quite far north during the winter months. Typical of bird species, the males are the most striking with bright colors on the head and black and white plumage on the body. A King Eider was reported in Marin County, CA. in February of 2001, and a Common Eider in Del Norte County, CA. in July 2004. Last year, a King Eider turned up at Folly Beach SC in February. Nothing here seems to match your sighting, but it does show that they wander south from time to time. I think it's doubtful that the bird would return to exactly the same place again, but you never know.

Let us know if you see it (or another) again.

Rosemary

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» Timbre Beck-Murphy - Did you here about the Eider spotted along our coast last year?

In response to Did you here about the Eider spotted along our coast last year? posted by rdrisdelle:

We are in Del Norte (pronounced "Del Nort" here) County, so the '04 sighting must be the one. Boy, did my years get mushed together. ;) He was beautiful, like a big duck: florescent orange with striking black & white plumage.

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» Rosemary Drisdelle - Did you here about the Eider spotted along our coast last year?

In response to Did you here about the Eider spotted along our coast last year? posted by TimbreLynn:

:-) I wondered if you'd lost track of time... Anyway, yes, that's the bird. My handy bird reference describes them as "hardy sea-ducks." Interestingly, male Common Eiders on the West Coast have brighter beaks than eastern birds. Common Eiders normally don't come farther south than southern Alaska so your bird was really far out of range. I hope he found his way back.

Rosemary

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