June 1, 2010
Glen R: caught 2 rats in havahart trap at bird feeder stump the last couple days.
June 2, 2010
Camilla L: A Great Horned Owl flew down to where our three drakes were sitting and grabbed a garter snake from in between them.
Glen R: saw first two Chestnut-backed Chickadees around (since last summer) the MB backyard the last couple days.
Glen R: saw first two Chestnut-backed Chickadees around (since last summer) the MB backyard the last couple days.
June 3, 2010
Glen R: Below are some images from the plankton counting session. Click on them and they should enlarge. The calanoid copepod and mysid shrimp on the bottom row are from the March 3 Severson Bay tow.
June 4, 2010
Glen R: Beach Seining at dock 3-7pm low tide 4:45 pm=2.1. High tide 12:17 am (June 5)=8.2. Water glassy, then some wind<8 mph and surf later, after about 5:30. Air temp=62. 30 m S. of dock Water temp 12 inches deep 8 feet from shore =12 C (52 Fh). Salinity same place = 1.024.
Clear, sunny, after rain last few days and wind till early morn. Then higher cumulonimbus later afternoon, with slight haze.
Saw 2 Kingfishers flying in tamdem by dock. No gulls around.
In single beach seine, a few thousand + juvy salmon. Approx 2/3 pinks from about 60-130 mm, 5 Coho to about 170 mm, some hundred+ Chinook 90-130 mm., and some dozens to hundreds of Chum, (hard to get not better numbers cause all identifiers could distinguish them from Pinks) Chum . Also one large Cabezon about 60 cm, about 20-30 Copper rockfish about 15-30 cm, a few Snakehead Prickleback, 2 Rock Crabs mating 3 others, approx 30 Striped Perch and 50 Shiner Perch, 5 Coonstripe Shrimp. 5 kelp greenling, both male and female, 25-35 cm. 2 Gunnels, 2 Herring . Also found a 1 inch x 1 inch cluster of pinkish-orange eggs that Russel B. identified as sun scorched Herring Eggs. A lot of the Salmon, at least several hundred, had a blue disfiguring disease on their heads (could not identify in 12 hour of web research). Also Ann (assistant to R Barsh) identified quite a bit of Sea Lice problems on the fish, esp. Pinks. Few insects in the stomach contents, a lot of the stomach contents were small fish probably Sand Lance about 40-70 mm long, also a few apparent herring about 40 cm long. Furious activity 150 m S of dock of juvy salmon hitting surface, sometimes a few hundred a minute in area 100 m diameter.
.
All of the activity and small fish activity makes me wonder if there is a larval fish nursery happening near this site which is drawing all of this incredible fish activity in such a small area. Russell said about 6 or so Smelt too were in the net. Andy ( live up hill above PO with caroline) says a least 2 herons were roosting in woods behind house much of winter.
Clear, sunny, after rain last few days and wind till early morn. Then higher cumulonimbus later afternoon, with slight haze.
Saw 2 Kingfishers flying in tamdem by dock. No gulls around.
In single beach seine, a few thousand + juvy salmon. Approx 2/3 pinks from about 60-130 mm, 5 Coho to about 170 mm, some hundred+ Chinook 90-130 mm., and some dozens to hundreds of Chum, (hard to get not better numbers cause all identifiers could distinguish them from Pinks) Chum . Also one large Cabezon about 60 cm, about 20-30 Copper rockfish about 15-30 cm, a few Snakehead Prickleback, 2 Rock Crabs mating 3 others, approx 30 Striped Perch and 50 Shiner Perch, 5 Coonstripe Shrimp. 5 kelp greenling, both male and female, 25-35 cm. 2 Gunnels, 2 Herring . Also found a 1 inch x 1 inch cluster of pinkish-orange eggs that Russel B. identified as sun scorched Herring Eggs. A lot of the Salmon, at least several hundred, had a blue disfiguring disease on their heads (could not identify in 12 hour of web research). Also Ann (assistant to R Barsh) identified quite a bit of Sea Lice problems on the fish, esp. Pinks. Few insects in the stomach contents, a lot of the stomach contents were small fish probably Sand Lance about 40-70 mm long, also a few apparent herring about 40 cm long. Furious activity 150 m S of dock of juvy salmon hitting surface, sometimes a few hundred a minute in area 100 m diameter.
.
All of the activity and small fish activity makes me wonder if there is a larval fish nursery happening near this site which is drawing all of this incredible fish activity in such a small area. Russell said about 6 or so Smelt too were in the net. Andy ( live up hill above PO with caroline) says a least 2 herons were roosting in woods behind house much of winter.
June 5, 2010
Glen R: got photos of Western Tanager in maple overhead backyard Mail Bay. Also got photo of Orange Crowned Warbler looking in brush backyard, pic shows something white glob in beak, not sure if down feather or remnants of spittlebug housing.
June 6, 2010
Glen R: hearing Varied Thrush outside today. Continuing having about 3-6 juncos at feeder regular. Also different young and adult towhees, a few Song Sparrows. Last week I saw a Song Sparrow with a twig in its mouth fly into bushes and with a young right after it begging fro food. A few of them and a few Bewicks Wren are also regular at feeder.
June 7, 2010
Camilla L: A Great Horned Owl has been sitting in the tree above our bathtub. Every morning, a Robin sits nearby and gives its alarm call.
Glen R: A.M. South Mail Bay woodlands. Heard crows bothering Red tail Hawk nearby. Red tail around almost every day seems like for many months if not years, especially over fields.
Glen R: A.M. South Mail Bay woodlands. Heard crows bothering Red tail Hawk nearby. Red tail around almost every day seems like for many months if not years, especially over fields.
June 8, 2010
Julie L: In bloom around our house: Jasmine, yellow flag iris, Oriental poppy, red and yellow roses, Johnny jump-up. Other flowers: Scotch broom, Orange Honeysuckle, salal, white clover, Herb Robert. The dogwoods have just dropped their blossoms. Red peonies are finished and pink peonies are just out. Rye is ripe, orchard grass and other pasture grasses are waist-high with heavy seedheads. Camilla picked a quart of wild strawberries at the airport, and the domestic ones are ripe too. Some salmonberries are ripe. I find one or two tent caterpillars beneath certain alders all over the island this last week.
June 9, 2010
These insects were found in a plankton sample taken from Severson Bay.
June 14, 2010
Glen R: 7:15 pm Mail Bay woods upper south woodlands. Jim D. reported a possible Peregrine was spooked from above outbuildings area. I relayed the description to Barry M. who said that it sounded a lot like the habitat preference, (forest) size and description of a sharp-shinned.
At 11:30 pm hearing a few Tree frogs at night in Mail Bay Woodland puddles.
Barry M: saw a medium sized bat today at Sawmill Corner environs. Said there are 2 sizes here. In 2008 saw a long-eared bat in a outbuilding. At Sawmill corner environs saw a Western Tanager hunting flying insects, possibly termites off and on over a 3 hour period. Then robins all showed up and began running around the yard.
At 11:30 pm hearing a few Tree frogs at night in Mail Bay Woodland puddles.
Barry M: saw a medium sized bat today at Sawmill Corner environs. Said there are 2 sizes here. In 2008 saw a long-eared bat in a outbuilding. At Sawmill corner environs saw a Western Tanager hunting flying insects, possibly termites off and on over a 3 hour period. Then robins all showed up and began running around the yard.
June 15, 2010
Glen R: has been seeing a few carpenter ants around for the first time in about a month of rainy cool weater. Last 2 days here almost 70 degrees, first time in a few years
June 16, 2010
Glen R: Whatcom and Island County have been closing beaches due to red tide. In the Mail Bay woodlands, he's been hearing throught the night a single young Great Horned Owl most every night.
June 17, 2010
Glen R: 12:30 pm heard Red Tail Mail Bay woodlands. Also heard a pair of Ravens this morn.
Tony S reports seeing 3 purple martins at dock today, and heard Purple Martins over at deer Harbor dock today. Josie reports that she has been seeing a family of 5 Ravens lately around Point Disney and a family of 5 Ravens around Sandy Point. Unsure if separate families or the same.
Tony S reports seeing 3 purple martins at dock today, and heard Purple Martins over at deer Harbor dock today. Josie reports that she has been seeing a family of 5 Ravens lately around Point Disney and a family of 5 Ravens around Sandy Point. Unsure if separate families or the same.
June 18, 2010
Glen R: Bill C. reports that he saw carpenter ants for the first time today. Barry said he hasn’t sen a big-winged adult explosion this year, only very scattered ants over the last month or so. In the field near Schoolhouse corner: saw a Sharp-Shinned being chased by 3 Violet Green Swallows. Barry M reports 1pm possibly 2 Purple Martins atop Cowlitz Bay dock crane.
Below: Fish egg and barnacle nauplius from Cowlitz Dock. Photos by Glen R.
Below: Fish egg and barnacle nauplius from Cowlitz Dock. Photos by Glen R.
June 19, 2010
Julie L: Last week we saw a minke in Presidents Channel. Today we went to Friday Harbor and saw L pod, between Yellow and the mouth of the harbor, between 10:00 and 10:30. There was a harbor porpoise at Yellow, very unusual location. David said it might be because the porpoises were avoiding the whales.
Glen R: At 11 am and then again at 5 pm heard 2 or more young Great Horned Owls in woods west of Schoolhouse corner. Also heard Red Tail overhead. Was talking with Mike C today. He caught a few legal 26-36" Ling Cod this spring, either on the Cowlitz side of disney or at Mowatt reef. He also mentioned that he has been seeing a lot fewer Greenling the last few years. I echoed that sentiment as at Point Hammond there were about 1/5 as many Greenling I would catch than in 1996-7. Skip L reports seeing 2 adult bald eagles (white heads) on a nest above Francis' Cove, and the nest is visible from the dock. Also saw a 3rd adult bald eagle perched on a tree near the nest.
Glen R: At 11 am and then again at 5 pm heard 2 or more young Great Horned Owls in woods west of Schoolhouse corner. Also heard Red Tail overhead. Was talking with Mike C today. He caught a few legal 26-36" Ling Cod this spring, either on the Cowlitz side of disney or at Mowatt reef. He also mentioned that he has been seeing a lot fewer Greenling the last few years. I echoed that sentiment as at Point Hammond there were about 1/5 as many Greenling I would catch than in 1996-7. Skip L reports seeing 2 adult bald eagles (white heads) on a nest above Francis' Cove, and the nest is visible from the dock. Also saw a 3rd adult bald eagle perched on a tree near the nest.
June 20, 2010
Glen R: twice in the last 3 days I’ve seen a Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) at blueberry patch near School corner. Also seen a pair of Western Tanagers there today mostly interested in the yellow (unripened) fruit of the domestic cherries there. Today also noticed that fairly regularly for about an hour one House Wren was chasing another in relentless circles around the nest snag from which young recently fledged. Diameter of brush at base of snag was 30 feet and the birds were circling around the perimeter of that. Saw a Sharp-Shinned Hawk a couple times today at Schoolhouse corner fields, Characteristic short shallow wingbeats and then a glide, maybe a circle and then repeat.
June 22, 2010
Julie L: In bloom around our house: Jasmine, yellow flag and purple iris, oriental, Turkish, and Flanders poppies, red and pink roses (yellows are gone), sage, Johnny jump-up, salal, white clover, Herb Robert. Pink peonies are lushly blooming, Sweet Williams, calendula. Grasses are emitting pollen like crazy. Strawberries and salmonberries ripe, thimbleberries large but still green, mountain ash berries red. Tent caterpillars not seen this week. Because of lots of rain, the basil starts we planted have not grown, but rotted. Other garden vegetables that need less heat are luxuriant, especially parsley, potatoes, and cilantro. Our duck had ducklings last week.
June 23, 2010
Julie L: Winged carpenter ant drones at our place for the first time this year.
Glen R: Mail Bay Woods 22:30 -23:00 Hearing a big commotion of GH Owl adults 2-3 really excited and talking over each other and lots of different calls all at once. Sounded like an argument. Hardly any silences between calls. Approx 150 m. SW of turnoff corner to gravel pit. Then one owl came down close to house and made loud single notes. (Next day Fred A reported hearing same thing same time to NE of turnoff (east end) to Mountain Road).
Glen R: Mail Bay Woods 22:30 -23:00 Hearing a big commotion of GH Owl adults 2-3 really excited and talking over each other and lots of different calls all at once. Sounded like an argument. Hardly any silences between calls. Approx 150 m. SW of turnoff corner to gravel pit. Then one owl came down close to house and made loud single notes. (Next day Fred A reported hearing same thing same time to NE of turnoff (east end) to Mountain Road).
June 28, 2010
Glen R: Glenda S. reports that at her place near E Mountain road corner turnoff seeing Western Tanager today at 5 pm. Also saw it occasionally last few weeks. Saw one a couple days ago perched almost motionless 3 m in front of her front window on stick with bulky insect, large house fly size and just held it for 15 minutes, wasn’t eating.
15:00 hearing on frequent visits here last few weeks young GH owls calling throughout day 100 m S of Schoolhouse corner
22:00 Mail Bay Woods heard 1-2 young Great Horned Owls nightly for last few weeks here.
June 30, 2010
Glen R: Barry M. At Cowlitz dock early afternoon reports possible sighting of Purple Marin flying towards TNC.