The Channel

Views Along the Channel

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Herring Fishing Fleet

During the school year I usually walk to UAS twice a week in the afternoon. It’s interesting to observe the changes, especially as the season turns to spring. The Channel boat harbors have boats in town for the Herring Sac Roe fishery tied up two and three deep to the transient floats. Long-line season starts a week or two prior, and the gulls are feasting on the effluent from the fish processing plants. Bald Eagles line the shoreline keeping an eye out for opportunities to eat, but it seems they are especially watching for the first herring spawning when the fish will be abundant close to the surface and relatively easy to feast on.

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Warm Winds

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Great Blue Heron

Early this morning temperatures hit 52F, near the record high (54F) for this date. After the rain started, the air cooled off pretty quickly to the mid-to-upper 40s, where it stayed much of the rest of the day. During the afternoon, the rain let up, and the relatively warm Southeast wind started drying things off.

The walk over to UAS was largely uneventful. Though it was interesting to see a Great Blue Heron with its back to the wind and head plumes being held up over its head by the gusting breeze. Rowan said she thought it looked like a giant kingfisher that way.

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Clearing Skies

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Golden-crowned Kinglet on Shore Pine

The clouds broke for a while today. Bright sunshine warmed the air and snow covered peaks were almost blinding white where the veil of clouds hugging their slopes had parted. There was little wind overall, but the sunshine was only temporary – while I was thankful it lasted for the walk over to UAS, I was a little disappointed to see the heavy clouds had moved back in to obscure the sun and mountain tops. I had been hoping to see some nice alpine glow at sunset through the window of the classroom where I was teaching.

While visiting the house today, I got some close up looks at Golden-crowned Kinglets foraging in the pine tree growing next to the former garage. Up on the second floor they were at eye level – so it was fun to watch them flit from branch to branch looking for food.

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