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.
|
.
November 10, 2020
Salish Sea, PacificNorthwest
We ventured over to a neighboring island a few days ago for some necessary errands (for eye appointments, to pick up welding gas and to visit the pot shop). With an hour to spare to catch the next ferry we took a jaunt down to the southern tip of San Juan Island to visit Cattle Point.
It was a stormy day but not actually raining at the moment. Big layers of clouds and near nightfall….a classic winter’s day on the Salish Sea.
Cattle Point lighthouse was built in 1935, now automated. The cattle that the point is named for date back to a Hudson’s Bay Company ranch here in the mid 1800s. This end of the island is now in protected status as Cattle Point Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) and San Juan Island National Historical Park so it was saved from what otherwise have been a series of McMansions on private property, which is what much of the shoreline up here is like. As public land, people like us can visit to enjoy the scenery and birds. It’s a beautiful “big sky” spot that is particularly dramatic in winter.
These grassy prairies were created by the local Straits Salish people by periodically burning emergent shrubs and trees (The Cultural Prairie). The open area was used for cultivation of foods like camas and for hunting deer. When white settlers took the land in the mid 1800s they saw these open areas as perfect for ranching/farming and settlement, already cleared of trees. The “historical” aspect of SJI National Historical Park derives from the military use of this spot during the era when there was a debate about who owned these islands, the Americans or the British. The American Camp was down here at the south end of this island. That’s a whole other story.
The island across the narrow pass to the east also has open prairies, including Iceberg Point which I’ve written about before. The prairie on this island is much larger, so birders here see really cool birds I don’t, like Short eared owls, Kestrels, Shrikes. Didn’t get lucky enough to see any of those this day though in the few minutes we had.
Here’s a brief video of the scoters in action. Love those brilliant colors and patterns, including those red feet!
.
Round the corner in the more protected coves there were a few more shallow-diving ducks, although I have to say the scenery was more impressive on this day.
Water ducks come and go. There weren’t many this day.
🦀
Blustery in the PNW islands today. Windy and wet. Temps in the 40s.
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.
|