Another day with new snow accumulating. The first time I woke and looked outside, it didn’t appear to be snowy. When I woke again later, the snow was falling, and by the time I got up, an inch or two had accumulated.
The snow had stopped by the mid-morning when I met with a couple of folks who I’m hoping to get to move my berm in advance of the state taking over the part of my property where much of it sits. (They’re redoing the main road, and as part of the project are creating a better sight line for the Park Street intersection.)
After lunch I went for a walk down to the park with Rowan (at least for most of the way).
Near the seawalk, we noticed a painted shell and a painted rock. The paintings seemed a bit more refined than I’ve seen on other examples. I know there used to be a Facebook group called Sitka Rocks, and perhaps there is one for shells as well. It seems there are quite a few people who like to paint rocks or shells and set them out for others to find. I think there are also folks who pick them up and move them around to new locations. I just enjoy taking pictures of them (I consider them examples of a broader class of things I call trail whimsy) and leaving them where I found them.
We had seen a moth flying earlier in the week, and one was posted on iNaturalist as well, so I decided to check the walls.
There was one pug moth (Eupithecia sp). These are difficult to get species names for, but even so, it was nice to get my first documented moth for the year. I’ll plan on setting up my UV light in the next couple of days.
Ravens were very active over, in, and around the park. Many were flying together in that way they do (social dance style) over the beach. Even more were feeding on herring eggs that had washed up, and quite a few were scattered throughout the forest being quite vocal.
When we reached the end of the park, Rowan headed home, and I walked the beach to check on the birds.
The tide was still fairly high, which made it easier to see what was around. Gulls were fairly sparse, but there were quite a few dabbling ducks and mergansers along the shoreline. Not far offshore was a good mix of typical diving ducks.
I was a little surprised to see four Northern Shovelers (and then later in the day see another pair at Starrigavan – which I suspect was different).
While walking along the beach, I noticed a Mew Gull chasing a crow. They seemed to separate and the gull backed off. Shortly after, I saw it happening again. I’m not sure if it was the same gull or a different one. Nor am I sure why the gull was chasing the crow.
Off the battlesite bench there was a flock of shorebirds, mostly Black Turnstones with a few Surfbirds and at least a couple of Rock Sandpipers. I also spotted a Dunlin in the mix, my first for the year (#84).
There was a good group of at 6-10 robins near Yaw Building on the SJ campus. They were working the edges of the snow and the flower beds against the building. I was interested to see a Northern Flicker and one Varied Thrush with them as well.
The water in the harbor and along the shoreline in the park (as well as other places along the road system) was still discolored. I’m not sure if it was from on-going spawning, or if it takes some time for the waters to clear after spawning has occurred.
I worked on my radio show this afternoon, and this evening finished up a post about the latest first 50F degree days.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
