While birding Tiny Township today as part of the Wye Marsh CBC, Dorothy Harper, Colin Harper, Susan Hirst and I found a female King Eider. The bird was actively feeding at the shoreline and at times would walk up onto the beach. Although lighting was poor, we had excellent views and were able to get within 15' of her. We observed the bird from approximately 15:20 to 15:45. She showed all of the diagnostic markings: gray-brown plumage with arrow-shaped barring on the flanks, stalky, with a roundish head and a pale line extending down and away from the back of the eye. The sides and top of the bill were feathered, and the bill was slightly hooked with a distinctive shape. At one point the bird flew out from shore to reveal a pale area on the underside of the inner wing. I have a close-up picture taken with a hand held camera in poor lighting that still clearly shows the feathering on the side of the bill, the shape of the bill and the pale line running down in back of the eye.
Also noteworthy was a Horned Grebe observed from the boat launch five concessions to the south (Conc 8). Directions: Travel north on 400 Hwy to exit 98, Bayfield Street, Barrie. Travel north on Hwy 27 to Elmvale. Continue on Hwy 6 north through Perkinsfield. Turn left on Concession Rd. 13 and travel west to the waterfront. There is public beach access. The location is marked on the Official Road Map of Ontario as "Wahnekewaning Beach". Rob Rob Maciver, B.A.H., B.Sc., LL.B. HGR Lawyers Phone: 705.526.2231 Fax: 705.526-0313 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Address: 518 Yonge St., Midland, ON L4R 2C5 Confidentiality Statement: This email may be privileged and/or confidential and is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or distribution of the contents is prohibited. If you have received this in error, please advise me by phone or email immediately.
