ML392128851

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Continuing from Nov 25 when found by Ron Martin at the Snake Creek Pumping Station. Multiple observers on that day, and then again on Nov 28 when Ron relocated the bird in Lake Audubon by scanning from the boat ramp. I found the eider by scoping Lake Audubon while standing next to the electrical substation. Light was good, the water was a bit choppy from the wind, and the distance was more than 200 yards out. The eider was watched for 2 hours, partly in hopes that it would move closer for a better look and photos. It repeatedly dove, staying under water for 60-75 seconds (yes, I timed a couple of the dives). It would be above water for 15 seconds or more before diving again. I made the dive by first flailing wings outward as if it was going to fly and then pitch forward into a dive. My observation was of a medium brown diving duck that had an all-black bill. Although the distance precluded seeing the finer details of plumage, the head shape and bill shape were consistent with a King Eider and not a Common Eider. The duck was definitely not one of the diving ducks in any plumage that occurs in North Dakota.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P1000

ISO

400

Focal length

503 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/250 sec

Dimensions

887 pixels x 709 pixels

Original file size

184.48 KB