Skies ranged from overcast to clear during the day. Temperatures in the 40s, wind picking up this afternoon.
A marine layer developed this morning and held into the afternoon before breaking up. It began to reform this evening, but appeared to have mostly dissipated after dark.
I spent much of the day at home reading and working on a project.
By the time I got out this afternoon, the marine layer had broken up. The sun was shining, but the wind was also beginning to blow.
I walked through the neighborhood and down to the park.
I continued my willow quest. Almost every willow I’ve seen far enough along to tell has been a male. As I currently understand it, with the exception of Sitka willow (which only has one stamen per flower), the females are easier to identify.
While checking the visitor center walls for moths, a strange scraping sound caught my attention. A squirrel was working on something round, and apparently quite hard. I couldn’t tell what it was, but I don’t think it was something they would normally find. Reviewing the photos my best guess is maybe a hazelnut or acorn. If I think of it I might go back and see if I can find the shell. [Update: I later went back and found two parts of a hazelnut shell there.]
Two variable carpet moths (Anticlea vasiliata) were the first I’ve seen this year. They’re pretty easily the moth I see the most of in the spring, so I’m sure they’re the first of many.
Out by the river mouth a male Northern Shoveler was almost fully in breeding plumage. A Northern Pintail was the first I’ve seen along the road system this year. For several years in a row it seemed like we had one or two wintering here, but that’s not been the case in recent years.
Hundreds of goldeneyes were a sign that waterfowl migration is picking up.
The marine layer was building up again when I went to UAS for a talk this evening. After the talk, skies were clear over town, but the forecast suggests that will change as the night. Our run of sunny weather is drawing to a close. The next week is showing rain.
I have mild soreness in my legs today. It’s more than I remember having the two times I went up to Picnic Rock earlier this year. I suspect it’s due to the faster pace I took down (which was more strenuous for my calves especially). Perhaps my legs not feeling as up to it yesterday also contributed? I don’t really know.
I ordered some business cards and labels which I hope to have before the Rainy Day Bazaar next weekend. I designed them based on some ideas from templates the printer had, but I’m not sure how I’ll like them in practice. I didn’t order too many, so it’s not a big sunk cost if I decide I want something different.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
