Measuring Muskeg Puddle Depth

From looking at the surface, it’s hard to know how far you might sink down into the slurry of decaying organic matter that makes up the bottom of muskeg puddles if you had the adventure of falling in. Though I am sure it varies from puddle to puddle, earlier this year Connor took advantage of … Read more

Green Water in Silver Bay

Recently the water in Silver Bay has been exceptionally green, almost like it was seeing glacial run-off. I recall this happening last year as well, and at the time I noticed it I wondered if maybe it was dust from all the blasting and rock work being done on Sawmill Creek Road and for the … Read more

Valley Stratus

This photo was taken back in January 2010 (but finally uploaded only earlier this year) – offering a chilly blast from winters past. I am curious how/why the stratus clouds hanging in the valley form and persist. I did not notice if they were quite stable or not, and from other experience know that it … Read more

Swainson’s Thrush and Ripe Elderberries

Thrushes seem to be quite fond of red elderberries (Sambucus racemosa). It does not take long for birds to strip a bush of berries, especially in late summer with many recently independent young birds as well as perhaps the starting wave of southbound migrants make use of the food resource. Recently I saw several working … Read more

Caramel Looper (Autographa corusca)

Although the identity is yet to be confirmed, I’m reasonably confident the moth pictured here is the Caramel Looper (Autographa corusca). In Southeast Alaska it has previously been reported from Ketchikan. This record (presuming it is correct), may be the northernmost observation of this species. According to the Pacific Northwest Moths account, the larvae of … Read more