Overcast with calm drizzle early, becoming breezy with rain later in the day. Temepratures in the 50s.
In my continuing efforts to shift my sleep, I was awake before 6:30am and out for a walk by 7am.
Today was the Swan Lake kids trout derby. I wanted to check the lake before things got going there. The chaos of all the kids in boats tends to scare everything off. It seemed quiet bird-wise. I spotted a handful of Mallards well up the lake amidst the pondlilies.
Walking through town to the park, I noticed it was quiet. Of course it was earlier than I’m usually out and about, but there were also no big cruise ships calling today.
I scanned a loose flock of Short-billed Gulls on the shore in front of Merrill Rock in case a Ring-billed Gull might be among them, but I didn’t spot any.
The Hairy Woodpecker nest has been quiet the past couple of times I visited. I’m not sure when the young bird(s?) fledged, but they’re gone now.
The begging calls from recently fledged young drew my attention to a family of starlings foraging on the beach.
I checked the gulls at the end of the park. I didn’t see any dark-mantled ones, nor the Franklin’s Gulls.
Light rain had started during my walk. Once back home, I didn’t end up getting out again.
I think the chickadees in the yard may be close to leaving the nest, and maybe one already has. At times the past couple of days, it’s seemed like more than two birds were coming and going.
I made progress on photojournals today. I published nearly a week’s worth from May. I also finished writing entries that only had notes and took care of the initial uploads. I’m now all set to caption and upload photos to publish entries through earlier this week.
I have a little bit of lingering soreness from Bear Mountain hike. I think I will be back to normal tomorrow.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
