Juanita Bay Park, 2009.0918

Gorgeous day at the park, with temperatures closing on high 20sC (mid 80sF).  Still not finding the Western Screech Owl, though people are telling me it was still in the area just a few days ago...

Among the interesting:

• Western Wood Pewee,

• Coots are starting to return (where did they go?  anyone?),
• Two male Wood Ducks were seen with spanking-new breeding plumage,
• a Downy Woodpecker,

• What I believe to be two Common Mergansers.  The difficulty is that they aren't in breeding plumage, and while we probably have a couple here, they both look too much alike (female-drab) to tell apart... UPDATE: Experienced birders tell me these are Hooded Mergansers, not Commons...

• One River Otter, which disappeared almost as soon as it was found, plying the shoreline of the bay just outside the inner JBP cove...
• Finally:  Kayla, an Icelandic Sheep Dog.  Cute as the day is long...

Enjoy!