Mid-February seems to bring the arrival of mystery gull season. I’m not sure if it’s just an impression, or actually true in practice, but it seems like around this time more large gulls show up around town where they are easy to observe. For them, it’s the lean time of year, and the food available around town certainly plays a role in the gathering. Once the herring really move in during late March or early April, they are very abundant, though not always as easy to observe closely, and gradually numbers thin out a bit as spring heads into summer.

I recently took pictures of three different gulls which are giving me a little identification trouble. I also realized that I have some photos of gulls from last year around this time that I have yet to get conclusively identified. Rather than cram them all into one post, I think I’ll let this be the start of a series of mystery gull posts.

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) observed 26 January 2008.

I recently learned that someone I know has had an Anna’s Hummingbird visiting. It’s probably more accurate to say that his wife has had an Anna’s Hummingbird visiting, as she is the one who has maintained the feeder since late fall, when the bird apparently first showed up.

When I first talked to her to get information for inclusion in the quarterly rare bird report, she described the bird as being green and distinctly larger than the normal (Rufous) hummingbirds she sees during the summer. Based on her description and patterns of past vagrancy, it seemed quite likely that it was an Anna’s Hummingbird. Anna’s Hummingbirds are considered Very Rare in Sitka, so I would not generally expect them to be around. According to the Birds of North America account, their breeding range seems to extend no further than southern British Columbia. However, they are early breeders (December-May) and expand their range north through Coastal British Columbia and into Southeast Alaska. Presumably they would normally head back south in August, like the Alaskan breeding Rufous Hummingbirds, but I guess this one went the wrong way and ended up in Sitka.

Although the feeder maintainer said she was not comfortable having other people (particularly those she doesn’t know) visit to see the hummingbird, she did offer to let me stop by and try to get some photos to document the bird. I was finally able to stop by last Saturday morning to try for some pictures.

I sat and waited outside near the feeder for a few minutes before I heard strange calls that seemed vaguely reminiscent of Rufous Hummingbird calls I have heard in the spring and summer. I went over and looked down from the deck and saw a hummingbird perched in a branch below. It sat there for a few minutes before approaching the feeder. I turned to watch it and it immediately retreated. I felt a little bad about scaring the bird with my sudden movement, so I resolved to not move the next time it approached. I got in a position where I could see the feeder well and waited. A few minutes later it returned to feed. It took a couple of minutes feeding, then flew off again to perch on a branch not far from the deck. Over the hour and a half or so that I watched, about every 10-15 minutes the bird would take a couple of minutes to feed at the feeder before going back to the branches.

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) observed 26 January 2008.

A couple of things struck me as interesting about this bird (beyond it’s mere presence at this time of year). First, It was quite vocal, regularly chattering between feedings. This seemed a little odd, but then I don’t know the typical behavior of this species. The other thing I did not notice until I looked at the pictures later. The bird never actually stuck its bill down into the feeder. For some reason that’s what I expected it to do, but instead it held its bill away from the feeder and extended its tongue to get its food.

I’m grateful to the homeowners who for making an exception for me and letting me stop by and document this unusual Sitka bird. In addition to being an unusual bird for the area, it had some extra interest to me personally as it is the 150th species of bird I have photographed in Sitka (assuming I managed to count things up correctly, anyway).

Scott Harris invited Connor, Rowan, and I to accompany his family over to Kruzof Island to spend some time walking Kamenoi Point Beach.

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Connor was running to catch up with Rowan as we walked down the beach on our way back.

Despite the name, Shore Pine (Pinus contorta) is rarely found outside of muskegs in the Sitka area.

These Shore Pines (Pinus contorta) are unusual for the area as they are growing near the beach.

Harbor Mountain is at the far right and Starrigavan Ridge the far left.

At least 20 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) were in Port Krestof.

Kamenoi Point is at the far end of the beach.

Connor decided it would be fun to belly crawl under a drift log.

Connor and Rowan display the shells they found on the beach.

Connor and I had a good time watching Bohemian Waxwings and Yellow-rumped Warblers on Hemlock Street today. The birds were quite cooperative.

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I think this Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) was probably stretching its wing while eating berries.

One of about 100 Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) foraging on berries in a Sitka neighborhood.

The Bohemian Waxwings flew quite close to us as we stood there watching them.

These berries were growing on an ornamental bush, but I am not sure what species. The Bohemian Waxwings seemed to like them.

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) eating Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) berries.

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) taking a break from eating Mountain Ash berries.

Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) eating Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) berries.

This was one of two Yellow-rumped Warblers (Dendroica coronata) we saw. This is a very late date for them to be around.

This was one of two Yellow-rumped Warblers (Dendroica coronata) we saw. This is a very late date for them to be around.

This was one of two Yellow-rumped Warblers (Dendroica coronata) we saw. This is a very late date for them to be around.

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) eating Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) berries.

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) eating Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) berries.

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) eating Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) berries.

Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) eating berries from an ornamental shrub.

Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) eating berries from an ornamental shrub.

Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) eating berries from an ornamental shrub.

Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) eating berries from an ornamental shrub.

Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) eating berries from an ornamental shrub.

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) eating berries from an ornamental shrub.

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) eating berries from an ornamental shrub.

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) eating berries from an ornamental shrub.

Three of five Harbor Seals observed near shore on 1 October 2007 at Totem Park.

Back on the first of October, I mentioned seeing interesting Harbor Seal behavior while at Totem Park.

The photo above shows three of the 5 seals I saw in the same confined area while at the park that day. Though it is not possible to tell from the photo directly, the water they are in is no more than 10 feet deep, and probably closer to 5 or 6 feet. One of the seals is shown holding its nose pointed up out of the water and into the wind. At various times at least three of them did this, and that is what caught my attention.

After an experience in Summer 2006 where seals unexpectedly climbed up rocky islets and the later realization that it was due to Killer Whales in the area, I have tried to keep in mind that, as prey of rather effective hunters, seals must be quite wary, lest they become lunch in a possibly lingering and presumably painful fashion. So that is what came to mind as I observed behavior that very much reminded me of other terrestrial mammals testing the breeze with their nose. In the days that followed, I heard of at least two different reports that Killer Whales had been seen near town over the same time period. Though the sightings I heard about were not in Eastern Channel or closer to the park, the Killer Whales in local waters range widely, often entirely out of Sitka Sound, so it would not be surprising at all for them to be move several miles over the course of hours and days.

An important question that needs to be considered is whether seals even have a decent sense of smell. If not, then it would seem quite unlikely that they were smelling the breeze. Though hardly authoritative, a quick Google search turned up several sites that said Harbor Seals do have a very good sense of smell. This was typically mentioned in the context of a mother’s ability to smell her pup, but I can’t imagine the sense of smell would be so specialized as to only apply in this context.

Finally, there is also a question of whether or not Killer Whales give off an odor that the seals could identify on the breeze. I have never been near Killer Whales when they are breathing, so I do not for sure. It seems fairly likely that they do, however. Humpback Whales certainly do and it’s not clear to me why they would by Killer Whales would not. Perhaps someone who has had close encounters with Killer Whales can leave a comment about their breath.

While interesting, none of this really proves in any way that the seals I saw were sniffing out Killer Whales. Certainly they hang out in the shallows fairly often. I do not remember seeing them stick their noses up before, but then there are lots of things I miss. Still, the evidence seems suggestive to me, and I will certainly keep my eyes open for Killer Whales if I ever see seals acting like this again.

Observed with 2 Golden-crowned Sparrows 19 October 2007 at Moller Park track. All were actively foraging on the gravel track.

Today’s American Tree Sparrow was a new Sitka area bird for me. I probably would not have seen it, except I stopped to watch two Golden-crowned Sparrows feeding along Moller Track. They went up into the trees at the edge of the track and as I waited, they appeared again with a third bird, the American Tree Sparrow.

For more photos and additional information about American Tree Sparrows in Sitka, see, Sitka Birds: American Tree Sparrow.

I dropped Connor off at school this morning then picked him up this afternoon. He and I went down to Thompson Harbor to see if any birds were around there. Prior to getting him from school, I took a quick walk through Totem Park.

Weather: It was rainy and windy this morning, with several breaks in the clouds (sunshine, though still breezy) this afternoon.

Birds: The Cackling Goose and two Greater White-fronted Geese were still at Swan Lake. I did not see any ducks other than Mallards.

At Totem Park there were 3-4 Northern Pintails, 4 Green-winged Teal, 8 American Wigeons and quite a few Mallards in the estuary. I did not see the flock of teal and shovelers that was there yesterday.

There were quite a few gulls around, but in the quick look I took (all I had time for), I did not notice anything unusual. It’s interesting to watch the river just up from the estuary, as the gulls almost seem to treat it like a water park ride. They float down the river and, at a certain point at the upper part of the estuary, they take off and fly back upstream again.

I saw a Winter Wren along the trail.

Other Notes:

I took a look at Indian River after dropping Connor off at school. The water was lower than I expected. At the Sawmill Creek Road bridge, the willows and alders were still well above water. When I checked back later before picking Connor up, it was up 1-2 feet higher, with the base of the willows and alders were under a bit of water.

One of the presumed tomato plants appears to have been stepped on or something, as it no longer appears viable. The other one had a flower open on it today (click on thumbnail below to see). There’s supposed to be an 11+ feet high tide in the next day or so, and I’m not sure, but I think that will be high enough to soak this plant. With the wave action that’s been there lately, it will probably be gone if the tide does get that high.

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Other Posts in the series:
Bear Mountain Flora (part 1)
Bear Mountain Flora (part 2 – Saxifrages)
Bear Mountain Flora (part 3 – Aster Family)

This is (finally) the last post about the plants I found on a hike up Bear Mountain earlier this month. This will be sort of a catch-all of plants that I thought were interesting but didn’t make it into one of the previous posts.

Unidentified Pea Family

When I first saw this plant, it looked like a plant in the pea family, but I was totally sure about that. I looked for seedpods, but did not see any until I looked carefully at my photos when I got home. I did not look closer at the actual plant because I only saw them growing on a very steep (almost cliff) slope with loose rocks and a long drop. I opted to just take photos from a distance rather than risk the fall.

Yellow Monkey-flower (Mimulus guttatus)?

These plants were growing in a moist area. At the time I thought the leaves looked a little bit like Enchanter’s Nightshade. Looking at the photos and comparing with Enchanter’s Nightshade leaves, it’s pretty clear they are not. I’m now leaning toward Yellow Monkey-flower (Mimulus guttatus)

Holly-fern (Polystichumm lonchitis)

This does not seem to be an especially common fern around Sitka, though I have seen it a few places.

Unidentified Cinquefoil (Potentilla sp)

If I saw this plant growing on rocks along a beach, I probably would not question it as a Villous Cinquefoil (P. villosa). However, I have never seen it at upper elevations before, though it apparently does grow in the alpine. I would not be surprised if it is Villous Cinquefoil, but there are other alpine potentillas that I am not sure about. One particular difference I notice is that the leaves seem much coursely toothed than I am used to seeing on the beach. I only found it on the summit ridge at around 4000 feet, or so.

Unidentified Pearlwort (Sagina sp.)

It seems most likely that this is Snow Pearlwort (S. intermdedia) or Arctic Pearlwort (S. saginoides). Habitat seems to fit better with Snow Pearlwort.

Roseroot (Sedum roseum)

This was a new-to-me plant that seemed restricted to the alpine areas. I’ll have to try to get up again a little earlier next year to get photos of the flowers.

Sibbaldia (Sibbaldia procumens)

Another new-to-me alpine plant that I only saw in the alpine areas. In this case I managed to find some flowers, though they are fairly inconspicuous.