Achievement Unlocked

I’m not going to bury the lead here—for the first time in my life, I’ve spotted and photographed a Harlequin Duck! And let me tell you, We almost missed it.

This trip was another adventure with my sister, and it took us down to Winthrop Harbor in Illinois. While we were there, we met some incredible birders. (Shoutout to friendly birders everywhere!) After a quick chat, they clued us in on the location of this beauty.

Their directions went something like this: “Go right down there, then all the way down, take another right, then straight until you hit a circle. You can park, sit, walk, and enjoy.” It sounded straightforward enough… until we realized there was one more left turn we needed to take to get to the real circle—not the half-circle thing. Gotta love those classic Midwest directions, right?

We eventually found the spot and began walking along the inlet. While scanning the area, we spotted something flying towards the lake. The waves were massive, the wind was whipping, and the ducks were out there living their best lives, riding the waves like pros.

From a distance, the ducks were tiny specs, and my lens was just barely enough to get a clear view. But then, amidst all the wave action, I noticed something different. Something special. I inhaled sharply, whispered an “Oh my… oh wait!” to my sister, and there it was.

The Harlequin duck
Hello, endorphin rush—how I’ve missed you!

What happened next was only logical: I took about 75 (or maybe more… no comment) photos in hopes of capturing one decent shot. Meanwhile, my sister, enthusiastically, got closer and closer to the lake, climbed on top of snow drifts and confirmed the sighting. I think she might have walked straight into the lake had I not been the voice of caution. Holy roles reversed.

In that moment, the cold wind didn’t exist. The icy shores didn’t matter. It was all about the achievement unlocked.

Trip #2 Tip: Trust in the kindness of strangers
In this chaotic world, it’s easy to forget how friendly and helpful people can be. But at our core, I believe humans want to help and share experiences. These little interactions—like getting directions from fellow birders—can lead to the most amazing pictures. Don’t be afraid to connect.