On a Lifelong Journey to Learn my Place
Animals
On my way back from Tlingit class this afternoon, I stopped by Swan Lake to see what might be around. The ice seems to be completely gone, but there was still some fog lingering on the surface of the lake. The male Green-winged Teal was on the peninsula, unusually tolerant for that species, but it … Read more
Mid-November is very late in the year for a Yellow Warbler to be around. When Rowan and I spent some time watching one she had spotted last week, it was very actively looking for food. It was funny to see its response to a rather large house fly (at least that’s what I’ve always called … Read more
A Northern Shoveler was at Swan Lake last week. They only occasionally are seen here in the winter, so it’s getting a bit late for one to be around. This one seemed fairly unafraid of Rowan’s and my presence, as it came close to the peninsula while we were there. A few feet off the … Read more
On this second (and final) weekend of my dad’s visit up here, we all had the opportunity to go with a friend to Kruzof Island. Rowan and I planned to sit on the beach and relax while the others went hunting. It was a nice sunny day, and the boat ride out was largely uneventful, … Read more
Sunny and calm weather continued. Frost has really built up in the shady areas, but air temperatures are not especially cold during the day. Although my day was fairly full, I did take a few minutes between lunch and the class at the Middle School to ride by where the mockingbird has been hanging out. … Read more
Late October Anna’s Hummingbird silhouetted against a bright sky For over a year now, Anna’s Hummingbirds seem to have been continuously present in at least some Sitka neighborhoods. They are easier to overlook when plenty of Rufous Hummingbirds are keeping the feeders busy, but as the more abundant species returns south, it becomes clear that … Read more