The Dolly Varden have started to show up near the beaches again. Rowan and Connor have been fishing for them this week, and Rowan managed to catch a 14″ Dolly (her first) this morning.

I noticed three Red-breasted Sapsuckers engaged in what I take to be courting behavior. They flew between various trees and utility poles near the corner of Jeff Davis and Sawmill Creek Road. They checked out some of the holes on the utility poles and seemed to be following each other around. Unfortunately I didn’t really have time to stop and watch them for an extended period, but my guess is two of them will pair up and nest in one of the two utility poles where there have been nests in several prior years.

On the way to UAS, Connor pointed out a dandelion flower. It was the first fully blooming flower I’ve seen this spring. (I’ve previously noted blueberries and skunk cabbage, but the flowers weren’t completely open at the time).

Connor landed a Dolly Varden while fishing at Sage Beach.

Connor is especially fond of fishing and has been asking about going for quite a while. I finally got around to purchasing a fishing license today with plans to get up early with Connor to go fishing early tomorrow morning, but it was a nice evening and Connor suggested we go this evening, so I decide that would be okay.

It’s about the time of year the Dolly Varden are making their return to the sea after wintering in freshwater lakes. It is also the time when salmon fry are making their outmigration from rivers, so that provides a decent opportunity to fish for Dollies from the beach. When we arrived at Sage Beach to a falling tide, there was just enoug land showing to make it out to Sage Rock. We set up fishing from there. At first I cast a few times, then I got Connor set up and let him go. I went a short distance away and cast for a little while longer before helping Rowan.

Connor landed a Dolly Varden while fishing at Sage Beach.

Before too long, Connor had a fish. He had it on the rocks almost before I realized he even had a fish. It was not particularly large, but he was excited to catch it. He managed to get the hook out, and I did a hack-job of cleaning it. It was starting to get late, so I let Rowan cast a few more times while I cleaned, then I cast a few more times, getting one strike (but not hooking the fish) beore we packed up to go. Before leaving the beach we picked some Goose Tongue (Plantago maritima) to cook with the fish.

When we got home, I started a fire, and cooked the fish and goose tongue wrapped in foil together in the coals. The fish turned out quite tasty, but none of us cared much for the goose tongue. Connor commented that he’s liked all the greens we’ve picked and ate so far, but he didn’t like these.