Leah Turner and Mick Thompson were named co-winners of the Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month award for September. Leah won for her shots of elusive Common Loons at Semiahmoo Spit, south of Vancouver, B.C., while Mick earned recognition for his photos of long-eared owls taken at Boundary Bay in British Columbia.

November is a time of consolidation in the birding year when birds are focused on recovery from the rigors of long-distance flights and raising young birds. They need a safe location where they can regain some of their lost weight and complete a feather molt in time for spring.