Sitka Nature

After steady rain all day, Melissa and I walked home this evening and enjoyed the sun shining on the hills in the distance.

Weather: There was steady rain throughout most of the morning and afternoon, but the clouds broke this evening.

Birds: We have been leaving peanuts out for a neighborhood Steller’s Jay. Today I had some for it, and watched as it would pick one up and fly off with it before coming back for another one. When I could see where it landed, it was clear that the bird was hiding the peanuts. At least once I saw it pick up a previously hidden peanut and rehide it elsewhere.

On our walk home this evening, we stopped near the Crescent Harbor boat ramp to look at the sunshine across the bay. While we were there, I noticed a heron in a tree near the crescent moon. I took some pictures of it and managed to snap the one shown with today’s entry as it took off after being spooked by a large flock of crows that had been gathering in the trees nearby.

I got out on a short kayak trip with Scott Harris this morning. We started out from Sage Beach, went down to the mouth of Indian River. After nosing up into the river, we crossed over to go around Twin Island and through the Gillmore Islands before heading back. This afternoon we went on a boat ride with the Nuttings up to the head of Silver Bay.

Weather: This morning when we started out kayaking, there was little wind. After visiting the river, we found there was a light breeze out of the south. When we headed out this afternoon, the wind seemed to be blowing a bit harder, but it was quite calm in Silver Bay. On our way back, the wind had died down somewhat. We went through a little bit of rain on the boat ride, but other than a couple of other short periods of light mist, there was no rain today.

Birds:
Late last night I went down to my office to turn the light out (I had left it on earlier in the day) and I heard several birds chirping. I could not tell for sure whether they were in the trees or flying overhead, but I think they were in the trees. It seemed pretty late for birds to be calling (it was after 10:30 pm, well after dark). Melissa heard more again tonight when she was out briefly.

On the kayak trip, I saw a larger shorebird fly toward the mouth of Indian River. It looked about the size of a Yellowlegs, but I do not think it had the white tail, so it may have been something else. There were a couple of Black Turnstones near the mouth of the river, and it looked like a few more up in the estuary.

There were lots of gulls at the park. We also saw one Black-legged Kittiwake. At first I was thinking it was a Mew Gull, but it seemed a little odd. Still, I would have probably just figured it was a Mew Gull until I saw the black legs when it took off.

Out on the islands we saw a couple of Wandering Tattlers and 4 or 5 Spotted Sandpipers. These were the first Wandering Tattlers
I have seen, and one of them was kind enough to allow me to approach for a photo.

The jay(s?) and flicker(s?) have been around the neighborhood again today. I was able to give a Steller’s Jay several peanuts. It would take them and hide them various places. I don’t know if it will remember where they all are, I kind of doubt it. I tossed a few peanuts to it and was getting it to come fairly close to me to grab them before it was time to go for the boat ride.

Apparently while I was kayaking, Rowan spotted a couple of woodpeckers (she was walking downtown with Connor and my mom), from the description, I think they were probably Red-breasted Sapsuckers.

There was a fair sized flock of geese flying south this afternoon.

Other Notes:
When we were getting back close to Sage Beach a sea lion came up behind us. It was a fair distance away, but they definitely seem a little larger when you are in the water with them.

In the backyard I observed what I think were probably too slugs mating. They went around in circles for the few minutes I watched them.

The mushrooms are coming out more each day. The Amanitas in particular are looking quite showy.

This week was filled with meetings and other preparations for school, so I did not spend as much time outside as I have through much of the summer.

Weather: It’s been pretty damp all week. This morning especially there was a lot of rain. Temperatures have continued to be in the upper 50s through the day with lower 50s at night.

Birds: I have heard Steller’s Jays and Northern Flickers calling around the neighborhood on most days this week. They do not seem to spend much time near the house, but they come through fairly often. I suspect it is the same birds day after day, but I do not know why they are coming by the house and moving on so quickly.

There was a small flock of maybe 5 to 10 robins that stopped by the back yard early this afternoon. The ones I saw looked like juveniles. They were actively feeding, but seemed pretty wary of me. I had some place to be, so I did not try to get too close to them before I headed on my way.

I saw a couple of different flocks of chickadees and kinglets at a couple of different places today.

There were several small ducklings at Swan Lake today. I also saw the Hooded Merganser with the Mallards. I did not see anything else unusual, but that may have been because a lady had been standing on the penninsula with her dog for awhile, and the birds scattered on to the lake.

Other Notes: I got a chance to meet with a millipede specialist yesterday. He was in town collecting millipedes, and was hoping to find people who live here that could send him collections. So far he had only found one species in Sitka.

Mushrooms are coming up in force. I’m going to try to get out to take some pictures this weekend. I wondered today how they time when to come up. This summer has been pretty wet, temperatures have been pretty similar for the last month or two, but only now are the Amanita muscaria coming up. They seem to come up around this time every year, which makes me think light must have something to do with it. However, it is unclear to me how the fungi would be sensing the light underground.

A full day of scattered clouds to mostly sunny skies was a welcome respite from recent damp gray weather. I went back to Swan Lake to see if the mergansers were still there, but otherwise spent most of my time around the house.

Weather: It was partly cloudy for most of the day. Winds were out of the Southwest.

Birds: I heard a flicker calling this morning.

A Steller’s Jay flew by the house this afternoon.

I only saw the Hooded Merganser that I believe is a juvenile at the lake today. I did not see the Green-wing Teal.

The neighbor’s cat caught/killed a thrush today. I’m not sure if it’s a Hermit or Swainson’s Thrush. I’m leaning toward Swainson’s, however.

The juncos have started showing up back in the neighborhood again.

Other Notes: There were at least three dragonflies at Swan Lake. I think they were paddle darners. I’m pretty sure that one of them was.

There was a Sitka Rose blooming along the edge of the lake.