Common Eider in St. Louis County
2014-12-13

'Accidental' in Minnesota - Five or fewer records in St. Louis County for the Winter season

"Pacific" Common Eider (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum) near the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth, 13 December 2014. After not being reported for several days, this individual was spotted by Amber Burnette amongst the flock of Mallards in front of the Canal Park Lodge. The flock was flushed by youth activities and landed at Canal Park, where it was seen by Dee Kuder and others. Unaware of Dee's sighting, I found the eider on the Park Point side of the lift bridge at 8th Street / Minnesota Avenue, where this image was taken at close range. The eider and the Mallards eventually returned to Canal Park and spent the entire afternoon there despite throngs of tourists. Since the disappearance of the second Common Eider 15 November, this individual has attempted to associate with mergansers and goldeneyes on several occasions, but they apparently felt threatened by the eider's size and quickly swam away or flushed when the eider approached. The eider was occasionally aggressive toward a Mallard, but seemed to be accepted by the Canal Park flock. The eider vocalized several times by delivering a single low- pitched, resonant, haunting "aagh".

Peder H. Svingen