This summer I was given a kayak to take care of while its owner is out of town for a year or so. He told me to use it as much as I want and I finally made it out on my second paddle today.

The forecast for was partly cloudy skies and light winds. If anything, the actual weather was better than that. It was a little chilly as I got things out, but once I was down near the water, the combined warmth of the sun’s direct and reflected rays was enough to keep me pleasantly warm.

When I got down to the beach, the Sheldon Jackson College introductory sea kayaking class was preparing to embark on a day trip. I got out in the water before they were ready and paddled a short distance away to look at the Fork-tailed Storm-petrels that were flying nearby.

As I headed out, I heard an expulsion of breath behind me that sounded like it was a little closer than I might prefer. I turned to look and sure enough, there was a large sea lion. It was not actually very close, but it’s easy to feel intimidated while sitting in a kayak when an animal that large is swimming nearby. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like if a truly large animal like a whale came up near where I was paddling. The sea lion swam further out in the bay where it was joined by a second and they leisurely consumed a late breakfast of fish. As they splashed around, several gulls flew in to clean up the scraps.

After paddling out in front of the Crescent Harbor breakwater, I decided to turn around and join the class for a little while. As I paddled back to where they were waiting for all the people to get in the water, I saw a bird I did not recognize. I tried to get a couple of pictures before it tired of my approach and swam off. A little later I realized it was probably a Pigeon Guillemot.

I paddled with the class across Crescent Bay to the islands. From there they went through the islands on their way to Aleutkina and I spent a few minutes just sitting and relaxing in the warm sunlight before crossing back towards Indian River. Fortunately, motor boat traffic was very light and the sounds of town were distant. The warm sun, calm water, and quiet was a welcome respite from the cool rain and noisy rushed hustle and bustle that have characterized much of my life for the last few days.

As I approached the cove into which Indian River empties, I saw many ducks, Scaups, Scoters, and Harlequins primarily. I was trying to approach them slowly to get a better look and maybe some photos, but they were spooked by another kayaker who had launched from Eagle Way beach. She approached me thinking that I was her paddling partner, but I wasn’t.

From there I paddled up into Indian River. I made it up into the upper part of the estuary, before turning back and drifting back out. It seemed like the birds were not quite sure what to think of me, especially if I was not paddling. They definitely seemed to be more tolerant of me in a kayak than if I had been walking on the beach.

By the time I came back out from the river, some of the ducks that had flushed previously began to fly back. I thought I would try to get a little closer to them by approaching from a direction where I could mostly drift slowly closer. To this end, I crossed the cove and paddled out a little way. My ability to read current and wind are poor, and this approach was not too successful. I did get close enough that I was able to identify the Greater Scaups and many of the Surf Scoters. There were some other scoters that I was not sure about however.

For the next hour or so I alternately sat and drifted to watch birds and paddled to gradually make my way back toward Sage Beach. During this time, I had a seal check me out. Seals tend to be quite a bit more subtle than sea lions, and it was much less intimidating to have the seal approach me than it had been to see the sea lion earlier.

One of the main motivations for getting out on the kayak was to try photographing the Storm-petrels. I saw many of them, a couple even flying close enough that I just about could have grabbed them. Unfortunately, between their small size, quick flying, and gentle rocking of the kayak, it was very difficult to keep the birds in focus when they came close. The times they did approach from a direction I might have been able to keep up with I had the camera stashed (it’s definitely not waterproof). Other times they just did not happen to circle by in an optimal way. I did get some photos, but they were all so blurry that I did not keep any of them.

As I was heading back in, I tried drifting up to Sage Rock to see how the birds there would respond. There were cormorants, gulls, Harlequin Ducks, Surfbirds, and Black Turnstones on the Rock. None of them flew off until I was quite close. They seemed curious about me, but let me get far closer than I have ever managed to get when I have tried to approach from shore.

Finally I waited off Sage Beach a little bit to soak up a little more sun before Melissa and the kids came down to the beach to see me in.

At the time I took this photo, I thought I was looking at a Black-legged Kittiwake. When I got home and looked at the picture, I noticed what looks to me like part of a red leg showing. This leads me to think that it might be a Red-legged Kittiwake. I would be more enthusiastic about this if Red-legged Kittiwakes were not so uncommon in Southeast Alaska. They are not listed as occuring in Southeast in Armstrong’s Birds of Alaska and they are listed as Accidental in one of the local bird lists. Unfortunately I did not pay close attention to the gray on its wings when it took off and flew further up into the estuary (the primaries should be gray underneath if this is a Red-legged Kittiwake). However, what I can see of the underside in this photo does not look very gray to me.

This bird would have been visible from shore, but I doubt I can find it again amongst the hundreds or thousands of Gulls around Indian River. That’s assuming it even sticks around at all.

Update: It was pointed out to me that Black-legged Kittiwakes can rarely have legs that are not black. Sometimes they may even have red legs. Given the fact that a Red-legged Kittiwake would be exteremely exceptional, my initial impressions that it looked like a Black-legged Kittiwake, and the fact that the bill looks much more more like that of a Black-legged Kittiwake, I think it’s probably the safe to conclude that it is a Black-legged Kittiwake.

Managed to get out on the kayak for most of the morning. Later in the day went for a drive to both ends of the road. Despite the chill, the sun was appreciated.

Weather: Today was the first mostly sunny day in at least a couple of weeks. It was in the upper 30’s around 9am and it looked like there might be frost on the roof. Winds were calm and temperatures climbed up into the 50’s later in the day. It felt quite warm on the water with the sun reflecting off the calm surface. There was fresh snow on some of the mountains. It looked like the snow probably fell down to about 2400 feet or so, but it was difficult to tell for sure.

Birds: One of the main reasons I wanted to get out on the kayak was to try to get a photo of a Fork-tailed Storm-petrel. Unfortunately, I did not get a good photo, but I saw lots of them. A couple of them even came close enough to me that I just about could have reached out and grabbed them.

I saw lots of gulls at the park, there were a dozen or more Greater Scaups, quite a few Scoters (most and maybe all were Surf Scoters), and Harlequin Ducks out off the river mouth.

The only other ducks I saw were one Teal and a few mallards. There were many more a couple of days ago, so I guess they were
either hiding well up in the grass or perhaps they have moved on with the nicer weather.

There were quite a few Kittiwakes flying and floating around Crescent Bay. I took a picture of one at the mouth of Indian River that I assumed was a Black-legged Kittiwake, but a close look at the photo seems to suggest that it may be a Red-legged Kittiwake.

There were four Common Mergansers opposite the river mouth. I have not seen very many of these birds this fall. I am not sure whether this is a typical pattern, or if usually there are more around at this time of year.

There was a Pigeon Guillemot cruising around the bay. I think it may have been a juvenile, but I am not sure.

When I came back in to Sage Beach, there were a couple of dozen Surfbirds on Sage Rock along with a few Black Turnstones. These are the first Surfbirds I have seen since last spring. There were also a couple of Double-crested Cormorants, a Pelagic Cormorant, many Gulls and four Harlequin Ducks.

Othern Notes: I saw a seal not too far offshore at Totem Park. I kind of wonder if it has taken up residence in the area and is the same one I have been seeing when I walk through the park.

Leaves are turning color on the Mt. Ash and to a lesser extant on the Crabapple trees. Most of the leaves are still on the trees, though they are definitely starting to fall. Devil’s Club leaves are yellowing and falling off.