I did not get out at all yesterday, since I spent much of the day sleeping after staying up all night to read a book. Today I went for a walk down to Totem Park at high tide to see about getting photos of shorebirds and to check on the orange felt growth. There was a cruise ship in and several other people walked along the beach during the time I was there, so I think that impacted the number of shorebirds that decided to stay on the beach.
Weather: Overcast with a few sunny breaks.
Birds: It was interesting to hear the birds at and just after dawn as I was reading early yesterday morning. The first bird I heard was a Winter Wren. A Raven or two made interesting calls. There were robins outside the house, and a Red-breasted Sapsucker tapped on the side of the house. I got up to take a look when I heard that and saw that it was a juvenile. Probably one from the nest that was back off of Westwood Trail.
There were a few gulls at the park, but they got scared off the beach by a kid going out on the point just as I was arriving. They intially just floated on the water not far off shore, but ultimately flew off to some place else.
The only shorebirds I saw today were all Least Sandpipers. I sat and watched a flock of 10 feeding and resting on the beach for awhile.
While I was watching the sandpipers, I also happened to see a hummingbird feeding in the fireweed patch.
I walked around Totem Park both yesterday and today to see what shorebirds might be around.
Weather: Mostly cloudy with occasional breaks of sunshine. Minimal rain. Temperatures in the lower-60s.
Birds: Yesterday I stopped and watched a family of Townsend’s Warblers foraging in the trees adjacent to the beach. I got several good looks at the juvenile birds.
There were shorebirds and gulls on the beach at the park both yesterday and today. Most of the gulls appeared to be Mew Gulls. I saw more shorebirds today than yesterday. They included quite a few Black Turnstones and Surfbirds (mostly turnstones), a Semipalmated Sandpiper, several Least Sandpipers, and two Greater Yellowlegs.
While I was watching some of the shorebirds, I also saw an American Pipit and a Savannah Sparrow.
Today I discovered a Hermit Thrush nest visible from the beach. The young are developing feathers, but have not yet fledged.
Flora:
Cleavers, fireweed, Pacific Hemlock-parsley, and Seacoast Angelica are all blooming. There are also a few Giant Vetch blooming as well.
I found a strange orange growth on a beach log. I think it is a fungus, but it has a felt-like texture on the surface.
Other Notes: There were lots of noseeums that utilized my presence while I sat watching the shorebirds.
