It looks like a cloudy day with a spot of sun in this telephoto shot. Compare to the previous wider angle view
Showers, both graupel and rain, with sunny breaks between. Temperatures mostly in the low 40s.
Road walking isn't my preference, but the views from Green Lake road and sparsity of vehicle traffic (due to limited access) make it a nicer road to walk than most
I walked a bit more than a mile out Green Lake road this afternoon.
Fortunately (for my comfort), my timing avoided any significant precipitation, and I even experienced some sun.
The air felt cool, but I did enjoy the feeling of warmth during those moments of direct sun.
One of a few salmonberry flowers I saw blooming along Green Lake Road
I was motivated in part because I had previously seen pictures of salmonberries blooming along the road. I thought there might be more blooming. I did see some blooming, though most are not. Still, it seemed like at least as much as blooming in town, and maybe more.
I think of Silver Bay as colder than town. I think for most of the winter it almost certainly is. For example, I saw snow in the roadside ditch in a couple of places. Snow melted off in town quite some time ago. However, it may be that around this time of year it gets warmer. It’s further from the sound, and the road has a nice southern exposure. Maybe it would be worth putting an ibutton or two out the road and seeing what they can tell me.
Walking along the road birds were mostly quiet. I did hear many bees buzzing about (though didn’t see many visiting flowers).
Along one section of road the ditch alongside was had water flowing along. I enjoyed hearing the changing combination of sounds as I came near and moved passed places the water was trickling over rocks into a pool below. Longer drops and bigger pools had a deeper sound.
I'm pretty sure this is Metzgeria temperata, maybe with M. conjugata as well
I stopped and investigated a wet rock outcrop with some liverworts growing on it.
While doing this a couple folks on bicycles said hello as they rode by. Just after they passed, I looked back again and saw a mink running up the road in the opposite direction. If I’d had my larger camera on me, I would have tried to take a picture. However, I didn’t figure I had much chance of stepping over and getting my camera before the mink disappeared. As it was, I’m not sure the mink realized I was there. It didn’t look in my direction while I watched, at least (and was not moving as though it might be aware of or concerned with me as best I could tell).
I was not far from getting back to the gate when I heard a junco or two in the salmonberry thicket above me. I decided to try pishing and was a little surprised when I saw a flock of 5-10 juncos pop up in response.
A couple of Golden-crowned Kinglets showed up as well, though they seemed more interested in foraging.
I made brief stops at Swan Lake (two swans are still around) and the channel.
It looked like herring might have been in the channel. I saw eagles going for things, and at least one that had caught a herring. The few dozen gulls were not taking any chances. Each time an eagle flew over with intent, they took off. Inevitably the eagle seemed to be going for fish. They took off several times during the 15 minutes or so that I watched.
Foam, perhaps from herring spawn in the area, forms a line just off the shore line
Spawning was reported out Halibut Point Road yesterday, so I drove out that way before heading home. The tide was up (I think herring might more often spawn on a lower tide), and I didn’t see any active spawning. I did see foam on the water that I think was probably from earlier spawning.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
