On a Lifelong Journey to Learn my Place
While going through the photos of a Red Phalarope from a few days ago, I notice an odd spot in one of the photos. I was curious about it, as it almost appears to be something in or on the water. I think it’s more likely to be some sort of lens flare artifact, although … Read more
Although the official name (that’s on the maps) is apparently Cupola Peak, Cross Mountain is what I’ve always heard as the name of the distinctive mountain that stands beyond Bear Mountain above Silver Bay. Rising from the ocean to a summit nearly 4000 feet high, the peak is also only about a mile distant from … Read more
I have been trying for several years to capture the optical phenomenon known as the “green flash.” Although theoretically possible to see during any sunrise or sunset, the terrain around Sitka limits near sea level viewing possibilities from the downtown area to roughly mid October through February. As I’ve tried for so long and never … Read more
Last week I went to a presentation put on by the group that would like to protect a collection of E.W. Merrill glass plate negatives by purchasing them from the remnant of Sheldon Jackson College and donating them to the Sitka National Historical Park. Part of the display were many prints that people had and … Read more
I saw on SpaceWeather.com (a site I check daily) that this year’s northern hemisphere noctilucent cloud season is over. There was a somewhat hard to follow, but still interesting, animation of this season’s noctilucent clouds from a satellite view. Centered over the north pole, the extent of the cloud imagery (though not the underlying map) … Read more
Peregrine Falcons are not often reported from along the road system (where they are mainly seen during migration), but in some years they have been known to nest along the sea cliffs of the outer sound. St. Lazaria has at times been a host for such nesting falcons, and on a trip there in late … Read more