These American coots are another favorite of mine. I like them because of their distinctive white bill, the fairly goofy sounds they make (a cross between a squeaky gate and a dog's squeaky toy) and the fact that my hometown minor league baseball team, the Toledo Mud Hens, are named for them.
This picture was taken at Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge during one of their "Open Roads Days" where areas of the refuge, normally off-limits to the public, are opened to the public.
