I was out at UBNA on my lunch break today and spent some time along the outer path across from Husky Stadium watching a male ring-necked (RNDU) and two females diving. I'm a novice birder but am 99% sure these were RNDUs: I could identify the male's black back, white spur, and white ring. However, I spent most of my break watching these birds and noticed that the male's eyes looked distinctly redder than yellow. Is there any explanation for this? It's mostly overcast here and was particularly cloudy when I was outside.

Other highlights included our male pheasant, more herons than I could count, and one pair of pied-billed grebes building a nest. What a great afternoon!

Meg Matthews
Communications Assistant
UW Botanic Gardens
206-543-2608
gavigan at u.washington.edu