Sunny and unseasonably warm with highs well into the 50s.
Southern winds aloft are what led to the warm temperatures (at least as I understand it).
Winds in town seemed a bit weird. At the golf course it was coming out of the NW. This matched the weather report from the airport. However, it was very much out of the south around downtown
I walked to Swan Lake later in the morning, but didn’t spend much time (since someone already there watching).
It was quiet along Kaagwaantaan Street, though I did see an Orange-crowned Warbler and White-crowned Sparrows at the Pioneer Home hedge.
I saw crows and ravens on Castle Hill, but no lingering smaller song birds.
I relaxed in sun on Pioneer Home lawn, but didn’t see the warbler again.
From there I walked to Crescent Harbor. I took some time to relax in sun along the shoreline. My time there was short-lived because the breeze was blowing out of the south (the direction I was facing) and it didn’t feel very warm.
While there, I did observe a Red-necked Grebe for a bit.
Next stop was the golf course. Once again I found a spot to relax in the sun (a recurring theme – on days like this I feel compelled to soak up as much sun as I can, winter is long and dark). Here the breeze was out of the NW. When I heard golf ball being hit, I moved on before I dozed off.
At the kelp patch pull out the White-throated Sparrow is still around. One (or more?) Song Sparrow is still aggressive towards other birds. I did manage to doze here in my car (which helped after a couple of not quite enough sleep nights in a row)
Before going home, I went to Japonski Island. I saw bird fly across the road while I was driving towards airport road from SEARHC. It may have been a Sharp-shinned Hawk. It was flying low and had a relatively long, barred tail. I stopped briefly but soon cars were coming up behind me.
I parked and walked back, but didn’t find anything.
Since I had stopped anyway, I decided to go down by the lagoon for one more time relaxing with the sun.
Sitting where both the sun and its reflection off the water were on me, I definitely noticed an added feeling of warmth the reflection off smooth water.
As I was heading out I saw a bird and stopped for a closer look. It was a late Yellow Warbler.
After following the warbler for a bit, I noticed what might be Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds.
My kids returned from their visit to my parents. My dad came up with them. We cut up and I cooked up most of the rest of the apples from the yard this evening.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
