252 Days until the US Open at Chambers Bay

I have been walking Chambers Creek Properties for years. I have been carrying a camera since 2009. With the US Open coming to the Chambers Bay Golf Course, which is part of the property, I have decided to share a picture each day for the 365 days leading up to the tournament. The US Open is scheduled to begin on June 18, 2015. As of today, we are 252 days away. For a more complete collection of my local photos, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/maritimeorca/tags/chamberscreekproperties/

Today's Picture:

Taken on August 29, 2014

It's not unheard of to see a Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) in summer, but most sightings for us are winter birds. When birds show up in fall, they lack breeding plumage. This makes them somewhat plain this time of year. They can be found primarily on the creek, but I have seen them elsewhere in the park. Some of my best looks have been on the small pond at the bottom of the switchbacks near the Central Meadow.