Overcast skies this morning gave way to mostly clear skies by noon. As the day went on, some clouds moved through, including a layer of what I think was altostratus clouds seen in these photos. It was not a thick layer of clouds, and they were too bright to look at directly in the neighborhood of the sun even when the sun was blocked out. I was wearing a pair of sunglasses to make it easier on my eyes while I was reading papers outside and I happened to glance up and notice the colored rings around the sun showing in the clouds. I didn’t remember noticing this before, but after doing bit of research I found out that a corona around the sun is one of the most common atmospheric phenomena. Although they are fairly common, they tend to be overlooked because the sun (and sunlit clouds) are too bright to look at. It is easier to observe a corona around a full moon, but since the moon is much less bright than the sun, it is quite unlikely to see multiple rings such as I saw today.

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Sun corona with several rings in what I believe is a layer of Altostratus clouds.

Sun corona with several rings in what I believe is a layer of Altostratus clouds.

Sun corona with several rings in what I believe is a layer of Altostratus clouds.

Sun corona with several rings in what I believe is a layer of Altostratus clouds.

Another clear day and night. As I write this, temperatures have dropped to 8F after reaching a high of only 14F. It seems unlikely we’ll reach a record low for this date (7F in 1971), but perhaps we’ll match or break the record low for tomorrow (8F in 1969) before temperatures warm up for the day. Fortunately winds have been calm around the house, so it hasn’t felt too bad.

The view of Orion from the south side of the house inspired me to brave the cold for a couple of minutes to take some pictures.

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Taken through a window, I could not see the reflected light until looking at the 30 second exposure.

Orion in the southern sky.

Orion in the southern sky.

Several snow showers moved through today separated by brief clouds breaks with some sun. It was interesting to watch the snow swirl around as the wind blew it over/off the house in various directions.

Didn’t really get outside much to speak of today, though I did step out to enjoy one of the cloud breaks (and saw a hummingbird flying off to the south). I also noticed a few juncos moving through a bit after 3pm.

I had intended to take a short walk down to Totem Park to check if any shorebirds were out that way and hopefully find a Rock Sandpiper – a species which I know is around, but had not been seen during yesterdays bird count. It didn’t quite work out that way, but that was because there were interesting things to be observing.

First up was a Western Screech Owl on Etolin Street – the first I’ve seen in daylight, and only about the third time I’ve actually seen one at all (though I’ve heard them many times).

Then down at the park I got distracted by conversation with a couple of different people – heard some interesting things about the goings-on of birds an other animals. Including ducks at Totem Park and Sea Otters out at Halibut Point Rec. (In one of the videos [update: no longer available] made by one of the people I was talking to – there is part of it you can observed Mallards working over the cobbles in Indian River for food, as well as seeing a Common Merganser try and come in to steal some bites – at least that’s what I think is going on.)

While out on the flats looking for the shorebirds, I looked up as the gulls and crows went into a bird plow. Spotted an eagle with something in its talons flying my way.

There was an odd duck out in the bay in front of Indian River mouth – too far away to get a very good look at. Also lots of birds out from Jamestown Bay, too far to identify as well.

Finally I started back home and then spent more time watching and photographing the owl, as well as showing some other passers-by.

The whole time there were interesting atmospheric displays as the clouds were breaking up in front of the sun.

In the end it was a fairly full day wandering around, seeing the sights, and then editing the photos later. I think the owl and eagle photos deserve their own post. The photos are in the album here, but I think I’ll write a separate post in the next couple of days to tell those stories a little better.

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Western Screech Owl found roosting in a spruce tree along Etolin Street.

Western Screech Owl found roosting in a spruce tree along Etolin Street.

Western Screech Owl found roosting in a spruce tree along Etolin Street.

A Great Blue Heron patrols a tidepool at Totem Park with Mt. Edgecumbe rising behind O'Connell Bridge in the background.

Bald Eagle flight with Common Murre prey.

Bald Eagle flight with Common Murre prey.

Snow-covered Mt. Edgecumbe as seen from Totem Park.

Sun rays radiate down over Eastern Channel with the Pyramids providing a dark background.

Sun rays radiate down over Eastern Channel with the Pyramids providing a dark background.

A Trumpeter Swan takes off from Indian River Estuary with storage containers making for a fairly developed looking background.

I was puzzled by this bird until getting a look at it in this full resolution (drastically cropped) scale. I believe it is a young White-winged Scoter.

Female Common Mergansers foraging in shallow water at Mouth of Indian River.

Female Common Mergansers foraging in shallow water at Mouth of Indian River.

Female Common Mergansers foraging in shallow water at Mouth of Indian River.

Sun rays shining from behind clouds with a bit of iridescence in the clouds at the lower left.

Cumulus clouds and sun rays.

Cumulus clouds and sun rays.

Western Screech Owl found roosting in a spruce tree along Etolin Street.

Western Screech Owl found roosting in a spruce tree along Etolin Street.

Bald Eagle flight with Common Murre prey.

Bald Eagle flight with Common Murre prey.

Bald Eagle flight with Common Murre prey.

The first has taken off and the next two are getting ready to get up to speed.

Common Merganser gaining speed to achieve flight.

Walking across the yard this afternoon, I noticed a Red-breasted Sapsucker working at the trunk of a Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). I was reminded that this sort of weather (perhaps especially at this time of year) makes for good opportunities to look for sapsuckers. They winter here in limited numbers, though I more often see them at mid-elevations than at sea level. However, when temperatures drop into the 20s and teens they will show up at sea level, especially near shores with sizable trees and good southern exposure. At such times they will really work at the base of the trees, I imagine because it’s the first place the sap will run – perhaps even when air temperatures are quite cold if the trunk is sufficiently warmed by the sun. When I saw it, this particular sapsucker was checking out wells that had evidently been made over the past few days. After it flew off, I checked them out, and they appeared to be pretty dry.

Winds were down today, though there was still a little bit of breeze. Temperatures warmed slightly, and are forecast to warm further over the rest of the week (though the wind is supposed to pick up later tomorrow). Some clouds were evident to the south and west as I walked home from UAS – the sunset was quite colorful, perhaps because of those clouds. On the way to UAS I noticed a somewhat strange looking cloud that appeared to be over Indian River Valley (though it’s difficult for me to say exactly). It was very smooth and I’m thinking that was probably due to wind sculpting. It was also quite isolated, so I’m curious as to what may have led to its development.

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Red-breasted Sapsucker working on a Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla).

Red-breasted Sapsucker wells in a Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla).

The cloud seemed a little strange to me. The shape is might be due to wind sculpting, but I'm not sure why it formed there all alone.

I was once told by someone originally from Anchorage that it was darker here (in Sitka) in the winter than in Anchorage. My first response was to say that didn’t make any sense – Sitka is significantly further south than Anchorage, and so has more hours of daylight in the winter. In discussing the subject further, I came to realize that length of daylight is not all there is to the equation. Sitka’s relatively warm winters with a relative lack of snow combined with persistent heavy cloud cover make for pretty gloomy conditions. When the snow does fall, things brighten up considerably – especially if the snowfall is followed by clear skies. Such was not the case on this early December day, however.

After a couple of weeks of exceptionally sunny and warm weather, the clouds, wind, and rain returned just in time for the first day of Fall. Gray (but not uniformly so) skies like this are not unusual sight around Sitka. These cloud formations certainly aren’t as spectacular as some others, but I appreciate the subtle textures and tones that can be found in them.

View from Merrill Rock

Cumulus cloud expanding behind slope of Bear Mountain.

It’s been quite warm (by Sitka standards) over the past few days. Thursday’s high temperature of 75F broke the former record high for the date of 68F, set in 1990. It was slightly cooler on Friday, and the high temperature of 70F recorded at the airport did not come particularly close to breaking the record of 77F set in 1964, though several other communities (including Port Alexander on South Baranof island) did set records for the day.

The forecast for Friday called for clouds developing in the afternoon with a chance of thundershowers. I watched for cumulus clouds developing as the day went on, and although a few did, they seemed to stall out or dissipate rather quickly. The one shown in the photograph at the top of this post had mostly been blown apart (or so it seemed) within 20 minutes of the time I took the picture.

Sunrise pictures from Sheldon Jackson Campus down to Totem Park. Bryophyte photos from Sawmill Creek and Sawmill Creek Road cliffs between Sawmill Cove and Herring Cove.

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Observed on cliff along Sawmill Creek.

Bartramiopsis lescurii was growing crack shown in the middle left of this photo.

Observed on roadside cliff by Herring Cove.

Observed on roadside cliff by Herring Cove.

Observed on roadside cliffs near Herring Cove.

Observed on roadside cliffs near Herring Cove.

Observed on roadside cliffs near Herring Cove.

Observed on roadside cliffs near Herring Cove.

Sunlit Cloud

Sunrise over Totem Park

Sunrise over Totem Park

Tidepool Reflection

Pictures from Sage Beach.

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The surface wind and cloud movement were not in alignment this chilly January day.

Observed growing on a large stranded drift log on Sage Beach.

Observed growing on a large stranded drift log on Sage Beach.

Christmas Bird Count today