The sunshine finally broke through the clouds today, but it was clear that it wouldn’t be sunny for long. So I grabbed my camera and headed for the nearby Pt Defiance.

I’m glad I did, because I sighted my first ever Black Scoters, though they’re not black because they’re female Black Scoters. Of course I didn’t have a clue what they were when I took their picture. I just knew I hadn’t seen a sea duck with these markings before. A little time with my favorite book, and a close look at their unusual beak convinced me that that they were, indeed, Black Scoters.

When I stopped by the pond by the Rose Garden on the way home, I discovered these two turtles taking advantage of the the sunshine as much as I was. I didn’t know there even were turtles in the pond, and I’m not quite sure what what kind of turtles they are.