I am not going to try to fool anybody: despite my best intentions to take and document a daily nature trek, there are stretches of time when, well, you know what the road to hell is paved with, right? That route is also paved with bad weather, and today was marked by yet more monsoons. No hiking... save for a mad dash through a downpour at the local Y's parking lot for an afternoon at the swimming pool and gym—picture-taking strictly prohibited. So what I present is a shot from my New Year's Day walk to Napatree and a trio of sea ducks an observer could spot most days throughout the winter. There are several species of Scoters along our coast. These are Surf Scoters, handsome birds whose males sport bold white patches on head and neck, along with a gaudy bill. With any luck, to say nothing of better weather and more time, I'll eventually be able to highlight the other two Scoters, the Black and the White-winged.