Overcast with periods of rain, heavy early, but not so much later. Temperatures in the upper 30s overnight and into the 40s today. Snow levels were down to 2000 feet or less on the mountains.
I went for a walk this afternoon. It was my fairly standard fall-check-for-birds route. First I went to Swan Lake, then over to Castle Hill. This time I took a route through the old Russian Cemetery and down Observatory Street.
The usual suspects were at the lake. I didn’t see the Hooded Merganser or the Wood Ducks.
It was quiet at the cemetery. I did notice a little gazebo sort of thing I hadn’t seen before. The wood still smelled fresh (I think it was red cedar), so I suspect it was recently constructed. I’m not sure what it is for, but it was built within a circle of stones that had been there for quite some time.
I did see a couple of late migrants at Castle Hill. One was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet that was missing a foot. It was a little unstable when perched, but didn’t let that stop it from actively feeding. I also saw an Orange-crowned Warbler.
This evening I went to a natural history seminar. I learned a bit about the carbon cycle, especially as it relates to soils and wetlands. Southeast Alaska has soils that are remarkably dense with carbon, probably due largely to lots of water content and relatively cool temperatures, both of which tend to reduce rates of decomposition.
I’m still feeling not 100%, but my energy levels were better today.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
