Bb
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.
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January 2019
Salish Sea, Pacific Northwest
Winter weather in this corner of the country swings between heavy grey overcast and the occasional sunny stretch of days. I go out for walkies no matter what but weather sure makes a difference in the atmosphere of light and color. I take far fewer pictures on grey days, and that’s not just because it’s often wet on those days too.
Some direct comparisons can be made since my route is along the same beaches most every day. Take a look at what I mean —
Oystercatchers flying in, and landing on the beach on a sunny afternoon...
...and on a grey day, very same beach from the very same spot (not sure they’re the same birds though):
The water is brighter and even the rocks are too.
Same days, ducks.
On a golden afternoon…
...compared to a heavily overcast day:
Let’s take a look at sand and an old derelict boat, at different beach. The grey day is a somewhat lower tide so seaweed is visible too.
I’ll take photos on grey days anyway if there’s interesting critter activity, and to document events, but often the light is so poor I can’t see as much. Certainly not as colorful. However there’s a moody mysterious atmosphere you get on grey days that can be appealing.
Going back into my archives, we feel a cozy quietness on a grey day...
...while the same seal on a sunny day glows. She’s greyish brown no matter what but the colorful sea she swims through contrasts beautifully with her fur, brightening the moment.
The seal pictures show that the grey of grey days isn’t an artifact of winter. We get overcast weather in spring, summer and fall too.
Here are some gulls on the derelict boat in October. The Mew gull fades into the monochromatic background while the pair of Glaucous wingeds stand out. Counterintuitively, the grey stormy-looking day is calm while there’s a brisk wind stirring up waves on the sunny day.
Interestingly, it’s hard to judge the season of a grey-day picture whereas sunny days differ noticeably from summer to winter. The angle and intensity of daylight varies markedly here at 48°N latitude. It means grey days feel timeless while the color of sunny days conveys season and time of day. Golden light is typical of afternoons in fall, winter or spring (possibly mornings too but I’m not out and about then 😴 ).
You can see by the pairs of dates in these pictures how quickly the weather changes up here, totally different conditions just a few days apart. In winter, we have more grey days than golden. Each morning I wake up and look out the window — what kind of a day will it be today? What should I wear for my walkies: long winter underwear or shorts, fleece or rain jacket? socks? scarf? It’s funny to think about all those choices when the wildlife critters I hope to see wear the same thing every day regardless of the weather. No sunglasses on bright sunny days, no umbrella on rainy days.
I pay attention to the weather, but really, any day I can wander outside in nature is a good day. How about you?
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Overcast and a little breezy this morning here in the PNW islands, temp mid 40s. A grey winter’s day.
What’s the nature news in your neighborhood?
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