Partly to mostly cloudy. Light winds. Temperatures warming to around 50F.
I had plans to meet Brooke at harbor at 10am to head south for Tom Young cabin and Goddard Hot Springs. Paul and Matt were already there, and we would pick up Kitty along the way.
I was up on the early side and got my stuff packed up fast enough to have some time to check around for birds.
Based on reports, it seemed new birds had arrived overnight with the shift to fairer weather.
I got messages from a couple of different folks about godwit(s) near mouth of Indian River, and heard swallows were at Swan Lake.
I checked from Eagle Way and did not spot any godwits. I hadn’t been there long, when a river of shorebirds came pouring out from behind the built up rock stabilizing Arrowhead Trailer court. At first I wondered if someone had walked out on the flats where they were, but moments later a Peregrine Falcon in pursuit answered my question. I hadn’t planned to get photos, so was a little slow getting my camera out and up, so no photos of the shorebird flight.
I didn’t notice much in the way of birds on our way south.
We unloaded at the cabin, then went for a little outing from there.
Paul and I took their inflatable and went north to Crane Cove. Along the way, we stopped at islet where shore pines had caught my attention. Lichens seemed very happy at the location.
With a falling tide, it didn’t seem worth trying to push too far into the cove. Kitty and Brooke had kayaked in (they could travel much faster than we could) and seen a few waterfowl, but nothing unusual.
After paddling in through the first narrow point, Paul and I beached the raft and spent some time checking out bryophytes on the little point on the north side of the narrow spot.
We didn’t go far, just checked trees and a rock outcrop.
Most of what I was was familiar. I did bring some Frullania home and was able to identify it as F. franciscana.
Most of what I saw looked familiar to me, but that didn’t stop me from making observations.
I’m not sure if many deer are present in this area, but there were enough that bushes were browsed down pretty hard.
Along the shoreline I saw the largest green alder I remember seeing. It reached out over the beach, but the trunk at the base was over a foot in diameter, with three sub-trunks branching off which were almost as large.
Paddling back to the cabin, I spotted a Northern Harrier flying by. I don’t see those every year, so I was grateful even the brief look.
After regrouping at the cabin, we went to the hot springs.
I had only been to the hot springs once before. It was a brief stop for a soak during winter, and I didn’t spend any time looking around. This visit, I opted to look around first, while others got in the tubs right away.
In addition to two tubs in bathhouses downhill from the springs, there is also a more natural hot water pool. Its bottom is a thick layer of mud.
I walked up to it, then continued on following piping and a trail up to cold water intake. I only realized it was the cold water intake when I got to the impoundment. Very little water was in there, though apparently it was enough.
I followed another foot trail for a distance. I think it goes to private property (including a house) north of the hot springs, but I didn’t follow it that far.
I’m only vaguely familiar with the history of Goddard. I do know there were buildings at at one time, but I think they burned down. I did find two remnant chimneys.
One of them seemed standard, with space for a fire at the base.
The other, taller, chimney did not have such a space. I noticed a couple of small holes, but they didn’t seem large enough for a fire. I’m curious how this chimney was used.
I found where the hot water is coming out of the ground and enters the pipes which take it to the tubs.
Where the water was emerging my thermometer showed it was 147F.
Where the hot water entered the lower tub, it had cooled to 135F (still plenty warm).
Around where the hot springs emerged (both the natural pool, and where the water water for the tubs is sourced), there are luxurient liverwort mats. I’m curious how it is in winter. I’m guessing there’s enough heat from the pools that the surrounding banks remain unfrozen, and this helps the liverworts be happy?
I made some collections, but suspect I didn’t pick up anything unusual.
I finally went back to the bathhouse and soaked for a bit. Not long after I arrived, others were reaching their limits, and started leaving. As I didn’t expect to soak for too long, I turned off the cold water input so the water in the tub would get hotter. I was sweating by the time I climbed out.
I didn’t bother toweling off, I just stood in the cool air and let the water evaporate for a few minutes. This helped shed the excess heat I had accumulated. Once I was mostly dry, I changed into my clothes and headed down to the beach for the trip back to the cabin.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
