OCEANSIDE -- A motorist called Oceanside police about 4:50 p.m. Wednesday to report a live penguin beside northbound Interstate 5 near North Coast Highway.

"All she said was there was a penguin on the freeway," a police dispatcher said. "(She said) there were no cars stopped nearby, no accidents, just a penguin on the side of the road."

California Highway Patrol officers responded to the scene and found a live bird in the center median.

However, it actually was a dark-colored heron, native to the region -- not a tuxedoed inhabitant of Antarctica -- said Officer Larry Landeros with the Highway Patrol.

How are you gonna confuse a heron with a penguin?!

Someone needs some

And to think they have a driver's license!! Reminds me of a funny story.... My family and I were crossing the 25 mile bridge into New Orleans and there was a sign that read "Call 111-1111 to report OWL's on bridge". Well I thought and thought on that. First thought was "Oh I want to see an owl!!!" 2nd thought "Why would there be an owl on this bridge???" So then I said something stupid outloud like "Have any of you seen an owl??" My whole family laughed me out of the car - DWI's is what the electronic sign said. The D looked like an O and the I looked like an L. I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer!

You are a HOOT, Jess.