Challenge

There were two somewhat ratty looking murres on the beach this morning, but they were not together. A series of seagulls was intent on challenging this lone bird. One at a time, they would circle in, attempt to peck at it, then back off when it gave them the stink eye. 

We met a guy on the beach at Bodega Bay last week who billed himself as an animal tracker. He told us that murres come on to the beach like this to die, so it maybe doesn't bode so well for this creature. They are somewhat awkward on land, and stand upright like penguins, which makes them easily recognizable.

It was very drizzly today, dare I say rainy. I want to practice using that word. Rainy.