I took a trip to the RI coast yesterday and submitted this report to the RI lists. I'm forwarding here because there's a link to some pictures some of you might like. Trustom Pond, from the washout, 9:30 - 10:30 am: 4 Canvasbacks, 2 Redheads, c 6 Am Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, c 12 Greater Scaup (did not spot any identifiable as Lesser), c 4 Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, Canada Geese, Mute Swans. Off the beach, several Common Loons, many Common Eider in 1s and 2s and small groups. Charlestown Beach/breachway: Many Common Loons (at least 10) and F Common Eider in the breachway, fishing for crabs. The fishing was very good as the birds came up with a catch about every 2nd or 3rd dive. Only 1 M C. Eider in the breachway mouth, but many more M and F off shore. 1 Horned Grebe in the breachway and several more just off the mouth. 1 imm. and 2 adult Great Cormorants on the rocks. Over the marshes 2 Northern Harriers. Weekapaug area: Very large numbers of Common Eiders off shore, numbering several hundred at least. Small groups and at least 2 large rafts of over 100 each. Beyond the farthest Eiders there was an astonishingly large group of birds in a line perhaps half a mile offshore. Line was mostly from the Breachway east, and certainly numbered several thousand birds. Too far for me to ID with my scope, but they were not Eiders, as there was very little white, and birds appeared generally black. I assume they were Scoters, and I thought I could see white patches on the back of a few necks, indicating Surf Scoters. I believe I have seen a similar group in that area and down to Quonny Breach in past years. If anyone has better knowledge of what they are I would be interested in knowing. Heres a link to some pictures from today: http://www.photoshop.com/user/mntncougar/?wf=share&galleryid=46df65075f67436 2816a92147073f6df&trackingid=BTAGC Don Morgan Coventry, Ct