A wink?
The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group. It is a place to note any observations you have made of the world around you. Rain, sun, wind...insects, birds, flowers...meteorites, rocks...seasonal changes...all are worthy additions to the bucket. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.
Monday Oct 12. Stormy today in the islands, windy and spitting rain. Indoor day.
Seeing no Bucket up this morning I'll share some photos of my most recent jaunt in the kayak, on a calm - if gray - day (uploaded these to a Bucket draft the next day for posting on an occasion like this). I had something to deal with on the boat otherwise I wouldn't have gone out. Glad I did! Enjoy.
October 8, 2015
Salish Sea, PNW
Some of you are familiar with the young Harbor Seal I met in the bay near my home two years ago. She lives there. When she was younger she was very playful, toying with our kayaks as we paddled, even once jumping on top. She did a lot of nosing the kayaks from behind and scratching along the bottom of my purple kayak, sometimes grasping the sides with her claws. As she's grown older she's become more standoffish - dignified? - mostly swimming around checking us out when we happen to be in the bay at the same time. Candidly speaking, I can't be sure she isn't a he - I was using her small size to judge that back then. Over the past two years she - or he - has gotten larger, but has not gone off to join the breeding seals at the haul-out sites, remaining here off and on through the summers. I've seen moms with babies here in this bay but none were her. I've never seen FS with the bloody patches males sometimes get from fighting during breeding season. So far I have no way know for sure but I will continue to refer to her as a she.
Yesterday I was out in the fog by myself and the Friendly Seal became friendly and playful again!
She's not the only seal I see in this bay but I can usually recognize her by her behavior. Her markings identify her absolutely if there's any doubt. Seals molt every year but keep their unique markings forever. I know her markings well.
(All photos by me. In Lightbox...click to enlarge)
She checked out my kayak, which she knows as thoroughly as every other regular boat in the bay, as well as the docks and underwater features. She is looking very healthy and rotund.
FS has always liked to approach kayaks from behind, sneaking up on us if you will. She knows we can't turn around. I aimed the camera over my shoulder once. When she saw me looking she somersaulted into the water. It's a game we play.
Those eyes are filled with intelligence and character. These occasions are as close as I get to connecting with a wild animal.
She was particularly interested in my paddle, sniffing and feeling it with her nose.
After a while her attention was drawn by something near the shore. Seals see better above the surface. Off she went to check it out. Geese, gulls, fish?
It was a sweet encounter on a quiet foggy day.
Anyone not familiar with the story of the Friendly Seal can check out my previous Bucket about her, which has links to the diaries before that.
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All nature observations welcome in the comments.
"Spotlight on Green News & Views" is posted every Saturday at 1:00 pm Pacific Time and Wednesday at 3:30 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.