Partly cloudy early, soon becoming overcast. Breezy out of the southeast with rain in the afternoon. Temperatures in the 40s.
I expected rain today, so was surprised to see what appeared to be brighter skies when I looked out this morning. I haven’t been paying much attention to the sunrise time, but also noticed it was getting light before 7am. Certainly seasonal, but nice to note all the same.
I had calls this morning and needed to give Kitty a ride to the airport.
I was running early for pickup. Since I was out by the cruise ship dock already, I continued on to have at least a brief look at Starrigavan.
Two swans caught the warm morning light as they swam across the estuary. I didn’t feel like I could pull over right away. By the time I had gone down and turned around, the swans were into the shade. The picture I hoped for will have to remain a memory (though that didn’t stop me from see what came out anyway).
A pair of ravens were poking around and very tolerant of my presence.
Just as I was about to head back to my car, my eyes were drawn to thin flakes of ice left where the tide had fallen after the water surface froze. I grabbed photos, but was not entirely happy with what I managed. I’m not sure I would have found better with more time, but it was time I did not feel I should take.
Leaving the airport, the sun was shining, though the sky no longer seemed so blue. Clouds seemed to be building, thin at first, but by midday they had thickened into a full overcast.
I checked the usual spots for birds, including the channel and Swan Lake.
The open water at Swan Lake’s inflow has expanded. I could also see where there had been open water along the margins of the lake. After the clearing overnight, they had a thin layer of ice again.
Only two Ring-necked Ducks were there today.
I had been undecided about going up Verstovia while on calls today (especially since I just went up yesterday). Since conditions continued to be pleasant, I chose to go.
I took a leisurely pace and arrived at the viewpoint in just over 29 minutes. Ideally I’ll get to the point where I can make it there in 20 with about the level of strain I felt doing it today. Time will tell.
I’ve mostly not paid much attention to the distribution of moss on tree trunks. However for some reason, today I did (at least on a few trees as I neared the trailhead on my way).
I mostly think of moss being fairly equally distributed on trees here. That certainly can be true. However, two trees I noticed today had moss only on one side. The first I noticed had moss on the north side, and was bare on the south facing side.
I’ve heard that at least in some places you can orient based on where moss is growing on trees (though I think mostly I’ve heard it as part of a warning that it’s not something that is consistent enough to count on). The idea is moss grows more on the north side, which is less prone to be dried out by the sun.
A few steps further and I saw its neighbor tree had moss on the south side, but not the north side. I did come up with an explanation I think is probably right (95% confident), but I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader.
I checked a flock of gulls at Eagle Beach. With more being adults, I think gulls have started to move (earlier it seemed an easy majority were immature). None that I noticed looked unusual.
I was ready to go home, but since the rain still held off, decided to take a short walk to Baranof Street Cemetery to follow up on a lichen observation PN had made last year.
I was able to refind it, and confirm that it was P. citrina, which remains the only species I’ve yet found (though in principle two others could be present in the area).
Departing the cemetery, I saw DK and chatted for a few minutes.
He asked me if there were swans at the lake. He had not seen any at Totem Park (I think as recently as Wednesday there were 25 there. I saw several yesterday at Swan Lake and Starrigavan. Since I had seen 2 at Starrigavan and they are not always out where it’s easy to see them, I had not really given it much thought. However, I’m now suspecting most of the wintering swans have departed. It seems a little on the early side (though not the earliest), but it has been a mild winter.
He also mentioned nice numbers of wintering shorebirds at the park. Among the Surfbirds was as tan one (which apparently looked otherwise typical, except for the color). I’m always interested in documenting unusual individuals, so my short walk became extended.
I had mostly been out of the wind while out, but out on the flats I felt it.
I did find a scattered flock of Black Turnstones and counted 9 Rock Sandpipers among them (maybe the most I’ve counted in winter). I did not find any Surfbirds. I’ll probably try again in the coming days.
I heard Song Sparrows and maybe a wren starting to sing while out this morning. It was not full-on song, but they seemed to be getting their pipes warmed up. Perhaps the combination of some sun, warmer temperatures, and increased day length inspired them.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
