Sunday:
Went hiking up Bear Mountain (Pole 41) with Gregory.
Weather: Overcast with just a little bit of snow, though there had been a couple of inches overnight. It was pretty windy in Silver Bay (evidenced by the white caps I could see whenever the water was in view). Pretty deep snow on steep slopes made for challenging hiking. Wind was blowing pretty good as we approached the treeline. It ended up getting quite windy this afternoon.
Birds: It was very quiet on the mountain. When we got back down, I saw a flock of Pine Siskins. I did notice at least one Common Redpoll in with them, but they flew away before I could get a very good look at the whole flock. In Herring Cove there was a flock of Barrow’s Goldeneye, a couple of Common Goldeneye, and a Bufflehead.
Other Notes: Lots of squirrel tracks in the snow even up a 1000 feet or more. Also quite a few deer tracks.
Monday:
Weather: Early snow gave way to partly cloudy skies later in the morning, fairly calm early with winds coming out of the north in the afternoon. Snow returned in the evening.
Birds: On the rocks at the base of the bridge I saw 30 Surfbirds and 3 Rock Sandpipers. Elsewhere in Crescent Bay or the channel there 8 Pacific Loons, many Long-tailed Ducks, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Mallards, and Harlequin Ducks.
Tuesday:
Weather: It was overcast with steady rain that never seemed that heavy when I was out, but ended up totally 2 inches.
Birds:
At Swan Lake there was the Cackling Goose, Mallards, and Gulls. I saw an American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos, and a Pine Siskin flock at the feeder on Park Street. In the channel I noticed 8 Pacific Loons, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Mergansers, and Scaups.
Wednesday:
Weather: It was overcast with rain and snow. Temperatures were in the mid-30s.
Overcast, rain and snow, mid 30s
Thursday:
Weather: Heavy overcast with rain and temperatures in the lower 40s.
Birds: There were at least 25 Pacific Loons out toward the end of the runway near Middle Channel and another 14 in the channel. I also noted Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Mergansers, Pelagic Cormorants, White-winged Scoters (toward Middle Channel), a Red-necked Grebe (near the bridge), and Long-tailed Ducks from the bridge.
I happened to see a couple of Song Sparrows in the bushes not far from the shoreline.
At Swan Lake there was a single Ring-necked Duck and the Cackling Goose along with the Mallards.
Friday:
Weather: More rain and temperatures in the low 40s.
Birds: 4 Ring-necked Ducks and the Cackling Goose were at Swan Lake with the Mallards. Quite a few gulls were there as well, including one that I think might have been a Glaucous Gull.
Around the house I saw Dark-eyed Juncos, Varied Thrushes, and heard a Song Sparrow.
Saturday:
I went on a brief kayaking trip this afternoon out to the end of the runway and back.
Weather: Mostly clear with temperatures in the upper-30s. There was little breeze through most of the day, but while I was kayaking (especially on the way back) there seemed to be a light breeze out of the Southeast.
Birds: While kayaking I saw 3 Pacific Loons and at least one Common Loon (probably a couple, but both times I saw one on the water it later took flight, so I’m not sure they were not the same one in different places). Surfbirds and Black Turnstones were on the rocks in O’Connell Cove. There was a Great Blue Heron there as well that I happened to see with a fish in its bill (though it was quickly swallowed). Other birds I noticed were Pelagic Cormorants, Double-crested Cormorants, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Marbled Murrelets, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Mew Gulls, and Harlequin Ducks.