Photo Study Of Common Eiders And Other  Birds At the Barnegat Light SP Jetty (Ocean County), NJ, March 7th, 2011,

    We were able to get to the Barnegat Light SP Jetty this morning and conditions could not have been better for picture taking...lots of birds; lots of sunshine; not too much wind,
   and a falling tide. The Common Eiders put on a spectacular show and we were graced with a bunch of other species too.

Adult Common Eider Drake

Adult Common Eider Drake

Rafts Of Eiders On Barnegat Inlet

 Adult Common Eider Drake Flies

Adult Common Eider Hen Flies

1st Winter Common Eider Drake Takes Off 

Common Eiders Swim By

    The Common Eider (Somateria mollllissima) is a large sea duck, 20–28 inches long weighing between 2.8–5.9 lbs. As a matter of fact, it is the largest duck in the Northern
    Hemisphere. It is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and Eastern Siberia. It breeds in the Arctic as well as some other northern temperate
    regions, but winters somewhat farther south in temperate zones, when it can form large flocks on coastal waters. The Common Eider can fly at speeds up to 70 miles per hour.
    This species dives for crustaceans and mollusks, with mussels being the favored food. The Eider will eat mussels by swallowing them whole; the shells are then crushed in their
    stomachs and excreted. When eating a crab, the Eider will remove all of its claws and legs and then eat the body in a similar fashion. Eiders are colonial breeders. They nest
    on coastal islands in colonies ranging in size of less than 100 to upwards of 10,000-15,000 individuals. Female Eiders frequently return to breed on the same island where they
    were hatched.  The Eider's nest is built close to the sea and is lined with the celebrated eiderdown, plucked from the female's breast. This soft and warm lining has long been
    harvested for filling pillows and quilts, but in more recent years has been largely replaced by down from domestic farm-geese and synthetic alternatives. Although true
    eiderdown pillows or quilts are now a rarity, eiderdown harvesting continues and is sustainable, as it can be done after the ducklings leave the nest with no harm to the
    birds. (Cornell BNA; Wikipedia; The Sibley Guide To Birds)
    

Black Scoters Swim By

Adult And 1st Winter Black Scoter Drakes

Adult Surf Scoter Drake Swims By
 
 Adult Surf Scoter Drake Swims By

Long-tailed Drake Swims By

Long-tailed Hen Swims By

Long-tailed Drakes Fly By

 Long-tailed Drake Lands

Harlequin Hen Swims By

Harlequin Drake Swims By

    Species seen today were:

    To see a larger image of any of the photos below, please click on either the  thumbnails or the captions...thanks!

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