What a great day of birdwatching we have had! In the spotting scope at McNary Wildlife Refuge, we watched a male Wood Duck twist around and preen his glossy colorful plumage. Wood Ducks are one of my favorite birds, and I always love having the chance to see the male's bright red eyes and green crest. Someone in my group today exclaimed, "The female is not too shabby either!" She has a tear-drop shaped white eye patch that is quite striking. What a beautiful pair they made!
The place where we went for walks today is a mitigation area created by the Corps of Engineers when the McNary dam was built. The created habitat provides shelter, food, and space for many species of waterfowl.
This afternoon we all enjoyed a wine-tasting with many local Oregon and Washington wines. What a treat! We also got to try some mustards, jellies, and chocolates made in Oregon. It was an appropriate and very fun event as today we passed many vineyards in our journey along the river.
