harlequin ducks (male)

Description:

A brightly patterned sea duck of the west coast of N America: winters along the rocky and stormy coast of Northern California, Oregon, Washington and into S Alaska, breeding in Canada and Alaska along fast moving mountain streams in forested regions. Females are a drab brown with two white spots on the side of the head. Winter numbers have been on the rise after many years of low numbers

Habitat:

Cape Arago St Park. There were a few more at Simpson reef about 1 mile away

Notes:

These had been hanging out on the rocks, at high tide until a group of young 20-something spooked them into the water