Bump on a Log

Saw this on my walk …looked like a bump on a log on the beach in the bay.   (say that fast)   extra.  Got closer to see it’s a common merganser (female)   When I got closer, she jumped off to join the convention.  Then when I went to the north beach there were a whole bunch more of the same.   Saw them yesterday in a big flock too.  Only other bird to see today on the water was that cormorant on the log looking north. (2nd extra).  I think they are residents, not migrating, but I don’t see them like this often.   They nest in trees on the bank and dive a lot for  fish and mollusks in shallow water…rivers and salt water.


Posting this a bit early.  We are doing something we have never done before.   Packing up leisurely today and out of here before dark (4PM) for the 5:45 ferry…but then we are going to spend the night at the Tsawwassen Inn on the  mainland and drive home in the morning when it’s daytime!  We’re not quite recovered from the rear-ender on our way home in the dark last time…I know it’s less than 2 1/2 hour drive… but heck,  we’re old..we don’t like driving in the dark,  we can do what we want,  so we’ll see how this goes.  A wintertime treat.   More relaxed already.