A Brief Respite From The Orcas

A Belated Happy Thanksgiving to all!  The southern residents have actually been around over the holiday- they passed by the Lime Kiln Lighthouse headed south yesterday morning MILES offshore, apparently headed west towards the open ocean. We've also been hearing them at the Port Townsend hydrophones...and that's about all the whale new I can share.

Life on an Island this time of year can be inspirational in its solitude- the visitors have returned to their off island homes and the Islanders begin to prepare for winter. The fog often rolls in off the Haro Straits and blankets the town in a salty sea scented mist, the eagle cries wafting overhead and out of sight temporarily.  The Trumpeter Swans have returned for the winter- their passes overhead making a brightly outlined juxtaposition against the grey of the waters beneath their flight. Grebes and loons as well as Harlequins dot the waterfront, their calls echoing up the hillsides.  There is a certain beauty to the solitude of this season which the Islanders embrace, even if the throngs of tourists do not.

One of the wonderful aspects of life devoid of shopping malls (or even McDonalds for that matter) is avoiding the potential for isolation by huddling together with some of the closest friends I have ever had the joy of knowing.  Friendships have a new meaning here- the relationships are meaningful and enlightening- each adding a nuance of beauty into your life for whatever reason. The people here are truly genuine- no goals other than to enjoy life to the fullest and embrace the beauty offered by not only the landscape and wildlife but one another. 

I have been inspired by some of these very kind souls to look introspectively, approach the world with a different outlook and embrace the beauty of art. Yup, drawing. Oh well- it had to happen someday, right? We started out a couple of years ago making jewelry (how addictive that can become!), moved on to pencil sketches and watercolors. The girls in the studio are all accomplished artists, some nationally recognized- and yet they are unfailingly encouraging and generous with their instruction. Every Sunday and most Thursdays we gather together to collaborate and accomplish, share inspirations and dreams and most importantly, create. Honestly, I cannot have ever imagined this spirited camaraderie back in Maryland- then again, maybe I was simply not looking.

So, not to bore you with the details, thought I would post my first colored pencil sketch just for fun. I know it's not a whale photo- but artistic license is the word of the day...smiles.  I think I overcompensated the colors subconsciously because of our currently grey landscapes- but if the color fits.... Happy Sunday!

Birds of the San Juan Islands

Some days in the Islands, it's not all about the Southern Resident community of Orca whales- who, by the way, made their way south on the west side of San Juan Island last evening and then seemingly disappeared this morning. The best guess is that the members of J Pod who were accompanied by several L Pod whales may have just headed back out towards the Pacific Ocean.

So what's left to talk about, eh?  Well, it is no secret that the San Juan Islands are home (or for some species a vacation home) to many migratory and local birds. The variety of bird habitats found here, from the ocean coast and inland waterways to the forested hilltops creates a great spot for watching many endangered and rare birds-from Bald Eagles to Hutton's Vireos, Warblers, Spotted Owls to Marbled Murrelet.  It's quite easy to begin a love affair with bird-watching right here on San Juan Island- in any season.

According to Mark Lewis, the senior author of "Birding in the San Juan Islands," some of our specialty species include three species of cormorants, including the Brandt's and Pelagic; virtually all species of North American waterfowl, including Harlequin Ducks and Trumpeter Swans; easily accessible nesting Peregrine Falcons; a pair of breeding Bald Eagles for each mile of shoreline; rocky shore specialists such as Black Oystercatchers, Wandering Tattlers, and Surfbirds; a dozen species of gulls, including Thayer's; a variety of alcids, including Marbled and Ancient Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres, and Tufted Puffins; and a variety of smaller sought after species, such as the Rufous Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Hutton's Vireo, Varied Thrush, Townsend's Warbler, "Sooty" Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Red Crossbill.

But this week it wasn't about the Murrelets of Auklets-it was about an interaction with an Accipiter Hawk, a young Coopers Hawk to be exact. Cooper's Hawks are frequently sighted around the San Juan Islands.  Like its smaller look-alike the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawks feeds mainly on birds, which it chases relentlessly through the woods- or simply tends to stalk at bird feeders. It also takes small mammals, lizards and snakes. Interesting fact? During incubation and the early stages of brooding the young, the male bird does all the hunting, bringing food to both his mate and the nestlings. Cooper's Hawks mature rapidly for birds their size; a full 25 percent of young birds breed the year after they are hatched, and the rest the year after that.

The other day, I was lucky enough to have a close encounter with the youngster pictured below. Not too long ago, a nest of swallows fledged, apparently leaving plenty of bird scent behind. This hawk sat on the perch for almost 1/2 hour trying to figure out how to get into the house. He wasn't half as interested in my camera as he was in trying to catch a quick meal. 

Other cool birds on the islands? Well, here are some shots...and if you're headed out for a visit be sure to keep you eyes peeled to the skies!

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