This morning I watched a family of four River Otters swim along the
shore of Fawn Lake, where I live in Mason County. When I stepped out
on the deck to watch from above, I watched and heard one otter's jaws
crunching a fish or crustacean (I couldn't tell which) after it
emerged from a dive. Whenever I see a family of otters here, they
stick closely together--usually just a few feet apart--not spreading
out as they fish the lake.

Also today, I watched a Common Loon out on the lake. Closer in, a
Double-crested Cormorant spent the night in the ragged Bigleaf Maple
in front of our house on the shore, 60 or so feet away from the roost
where many of its "colleagues" routinely spend winter nights. Then,
this morning, a Sharp-shinned Hawk attempted to raid the feeder and
perched on my deck railing a few feet away, showing off its bright
yellow feet.

A good wildlife day on an otherwise dreary day at home.

Lee Rentz
Shelton, WA
http://www.leerentz.wordpress.com (blog)