Greetings,

The nasty weather on Saturday did not stop a planned trip to Neah Bay to see
who all was overwintering in those protected waters. The west end of town
is a good place to set up a scope and watch the activities. There were lots
of American wigeons, hooded mergansers, red-breasted mergansers, black
scoters, white-winged scoters, surf scoters, western and horned grebes, and
two long-tailed ducks, among others. The high point of the outing, besides
the fact that the weather cleared when we reached Neah Bay, was a
wonderfully long observation of a northern pygmy owl. We walked the gated
road from town to the foot of the breakwater. On the water side of the road
are many young alders. The lump up in one of them turned out to be the
backside of the owl. We got a good look at the two black head patches. The
owl cooperated by turning around to give us a good anterior view, too. It
must have remained in place for about five minutes. Light conditions were
low as we were in the shade of Cape Flattery and it was 4:30 in the
afternoon. However, plumage colors and patterns were quite distinct with a
Pentax spotting scope.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds
cariddell at mac.com