I set out paddling early this morning, enjoying the flat seas and blue skies.  The only fly in the ointment was distant fog.  I could see a fog bank hugging the shores of San Juan Island just across the channel and hoped it wouldn’t drift this way.

I heard the chatter of a kingfisher and saw him heading for a nearby tree, where he stayed just long enough for me to get this shot.

Then, he was airborne again, heading for some rocks.

I headed for the entrance to Reid Harbor, checking out the shore as I went.  It’s a wonder I was able to spot this heron, he blended in so perfectly with the rocks.

This giant madrone caught my eye.

When I reached the entrance, I checked on the fog situation and decided I’d take a chance on going out into the channel.  As I rounded the point, I was looking for seals or otters, when, to my amazement, this sheep appeared!

And then, another sheep appeared, and another.  There were several sheep grazing on the grass, and the seagrass exposed by the low tide.

This guy had a perfectly round hole in his ear.

I’m assuming the sheep are used for weed abatement.  I love it!

Well, I did find a seal.  In fact there was a whole rookery. 

I didn’t hang around long enough to take any more seal photos, since I’ve had frightening seal encounters in the past.

One of the pretty little islets at the entrance had an interesting beach I wanted to check out for possible landing.

Not too far from the beach I found some oyster catchers scouring the shore.