It was raining all day yesterday, our travel day back to the island from a quick trip over to the mainland. The previous night had been terrifically dramatic: a major thunder and lightning storm, pouring buckets of rain. Storms like that are very rare in the Pacific Northwest, so it was fun to watch. On our way home we had a few spare moments before the ferry so I checked out the usual spots.
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Out on the Skagit flats the fields are plowed and crops emerging. At Jensen’s access I saw the eagle above surveying the mostly empty bay. There were a few gulls and shorebirds but no big flocks. Further along our way near Padilla Bay there was one group of Snow Geese, about 200, the only white-wings visible anywhere on the Flats. These are stragglers — most geese and all the swans appear to have departed for their breeding grounds north.
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Up on Cap Sante I saw a surprising number of native wildflowers, considering how small the rocky bluff is and how well-trafficked by sightseers. I saw lots of Camas, Spring Gold (Lomatium) and Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense) blooming, as well as emerging foliage of Yarrow, Nootka Rose and Snowberry.
At Ship Harbor, waiting for the boat to arrive, I ventured as far as the beach but didn’t go far. It was wet and windy. Several White-crowned Sparrows were chasing each other around, possibly establishing breeding territories.
No ospreys to be seen (maybe not here yet), no wigeons (already gone for the year) but a few buffleheads still. The Pelagic cormorants perched on the pilings hopefully but I saw no signs of nest prep. I assume Washington State Ferries will discourage them from nesting again by driving loudly around the pilings scaring them off.
I didn’t actually walk down the beach but I took a zoom photo of the Purple Martin nest boxes. Although I saw no action at the time, in my photo I see three perched on and around the boxes, so I can report they have returned for the season.
That’s it for our late Bucket today.
In the PNW islands today it is partly sunny, mid 50s, and breezy. Ground is very wet. Good weather for the garden. I’ll be in and out today, but please add your nature notes in the comments below.
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