If you enjoy birding in the northwest, this is a time of year to celebrate. Based on my limited experience, we see more waterfowl during this seasonal period than at any other time of year - many of them fairly rare. Buffleheads are among my favorites. I love their distinctive markings.
As best I can tell, the following duck is a Canvasback. Very unusual eye.
These Ring Necked ducks also have very distinctive markings.
Two Common Mergansers hanging out on a rock in the river. Funny to watch them float along in the current.
One of the more spectacular ducks is a Hooded Merganser, here hanging out with a bufflehead.
For great views, take your binoculars (and umbrella) to Lake Sawyer Park and follow the trail around Frog Lake. Lots of buffleheads on Lake Sawyer near where Ravensdale Creek enters. Mornings and evenings are the best times. In addition to those pictured above, have also seen American Wigeons and Common Goldeneyes so far. Expecting our two families of Wood Ducks back soon along with Gadwalls, Eurasian Wigeons, Blue Winged Teals, American Shovelers and more. They are very skittish right now so proceed with caution. Please foregive the grainyness of several photos. Each taken earlier this week, some sans much sun and at long distance.