The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
|
.
December 15, 2019
Salish Sea, PacificNorthwest
Blustery and spitting rain this morning. But yesterday was a rare December’s day that was calm and even a little sunny. Sure, the sun was so low in the sky it was barely visible above any trees, and dim overall, but a clement day like that is one to grab for going out boating. So we did.
It was a very high tide, as it tends to be in midwinter during the daytime. Not much tidal water movement though when you’re in between a low of 7.2’ and a high of 7.7’, so we encountered no tide rips or swirling. Easy peasy boating. In today’s gusty 30 knot weather it would be very bumpy and splashy. Not so nice.
High tide means not much haul out real estate for the seals
Recent super high tides have lifted most beach driftwood, now bobbing around in the water. Watch out for deadheads.
A Mew gull uses a driftlog as a perch way out from shore.
Cormorants too. A Pelagic (left) shares a log with a Brandt’s (right), with a Pelagic floating nearby. You can see the size and shape difference between these species.
Out on Whale Rocks there wasn’t much area for the Steller Sea lions to haul out either. There’s the usual 80+ we see in midwinter, a mix of bulls, cows and youngsters.
Brandt’s cormorants share the space, closer to the water’s edge. Both adults and youngsters from this year.
Some parts of the Rock are favored. Look how calm that water is!
The White-Seal rocks off Long Island are high enough for some haul out still
On returning to the bay there was a gigantic raft of ducks. I thought they were all buffleheads but it turns out there were about 40 Common Goldeneyes too!
Some blue reflections in calm sea waters as we return to the bay along with stormy unstable clouds above.
A squall blew through right after we landed. Just in time.
🐚
Spitting rain in the PNW this morning. Temps in the low 40s. Wind rising, gusting in the 30+ knot range.
What’s up in nature in your area today?
🐚
"SPOTLIGHT ON GREEN NEWS & VIEWS"
EVERY SATURDAY AT 3:00 PM PACIFIC TIME ON THE DAILY KOS FRONT PAGE.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO CATCH UP ON DIARIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED. BE SURE TO RECOMMEND AND COMMENT IN THE DIARY.
|