Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make my day. While out for a dull, gray winter's day walk, amongst the seabirds poking around on the shore I spied the pair of Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) visible in the center of this photo. While they are not a particularly rare or an endangered species, I haven't seen any on the West Bay Walkway since 2012 and even then they were shy and few in number. Of course they are also a very attractive duck with instantly recognizable markings and colors. The trio on the right are Hooded Mergansers and a Black Oystercatcher is visible on the left.