Took a couple of pictures on my way to and from class this morning. The view looking back toward town from the west side of O’Connell Bridge caught my eye on my way to class – though it seemed a little less engaging when I was looking at the pictures evening. On the way home I wasn’t sure what was going on with the group of ravens in the lawns by the Baranof statue. It looked like they were finding something to eat, but I have no idea what.

This afternoon I took pictures for a project where students are looking at mycorrhizal relationships with trees. Spruce and hemlock both have mycorrhizal partners that form endomycorrhizal sheaths around the rootlets and through that interface exchange nutrients (and I don’t know what all else).

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Morning view looking back across the channel from the west side of O'Connell Bridge.

These ravens seemed to be finding something of interest in the lawn. It looked like they were picking up something small to eat, but I don't know what.

Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) rootlets.

Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) roots.

Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) root tips.

Root tips of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).

I was up before 6 this morning and took a walk down to O’Connell Bridge. It was enjoyable to take some long-exposure photographs in the predawn light.

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The sky is just starting to lighten behond the mountains to the east.

A troller headed out leaves an odd pattern of light trails behind it in this long exposure.

The Sisters are in Silhouette behind the sodium vapor lights casting their yellow glow over the boats in Crescent Harbor.

City lights illuminate O'Connell bridge with Mt. Edgecumbe in the background.

City lights illuminate O'Connell bridge with Mt. Edgecumbe in the background.

O'Connell Bridge before dawn.

A bright glitter path illuminates the waters of Sitka Sound below a nearly moon.

While walking through town on my way to UAS, I was inspired to take a series of tree silhouette photos. It was interesting to see how distinct they looked, even in silhouette. Of course the colorful sky as a backdrop didn’t hurt.

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One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

Pink clouds color the sky behind O'Connell Bridge with Mt. Edgecumbe in the distance.

Colorful winter sunset observed from O'Connell Bridge.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

One of a series of tree silhouettes to illustrate differences in growth paterns between species.

Colorful winter sunset observed from O'Connell Bridge.

Colorful winter sunset observed from O'Connell Bridge.

Colorful winter sunset observed from O'Connell Bridge.

Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) observed off O'Connell Brige, 31 March 2009.

For the second year in a row, an apparently pure (or nearly so) Western Gull showed up in/around the Channel. Unlike the Western Gull I saw last year, this one was not hanging out right on the ramp where it was easy to get reasonably close photos. I happened to notice this one in fading light while checking out gulls on a rock pile below the bridge shortly before sunset. At first I thought it was the Slaty-backed Gull I had seen earlier in the month, but when I looked at the pictures, it was clear that it was not a Slaty-backed Gull. I almost went down to the beach below the bridge to try for better photos, but the flock was startled up by a passing boat an when the Western Gull landed, it was on the opposite side the rocks where I could not see it nearly as well.

Western Gulls are considered Casual in Alaska, and this only the fifth report I know of for the Sitka area.

Thanks to Steve Heinl for confirming this identification.

Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) observed off O'Connell Brige, 31 March 2009.

Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) observed off O'Connell Brige, 31 March 2009.