Journal 8: Field Trip

Location: Top of Ebey’s landing

Date: November 17, 2018

Temperature: Approximately 53 degrees Fahrenheit

Time: 11:09 AM-12:06 PM

Weather: Cloudy, with some sun

At the top of the Ebey’s Landing, the class got out of the cars and took a look around. The temperature was chilly at first, but as the sun started to peek through the clouds, it started to get warmer.  At the top of the Ebey’s Landing, we saw the valley. The valley was formed by a glacial meltwater channel when the glacier stalled here. The area has been inhabited for at least 2000 years. The trees that were located there were Douglas Firs and Sitka Spruce. For the Sitka spruce, the needles seemed to be thicker than the Sitka spruce that the class saw at Union Bay, and the Douglas Fir had sun foliage at the top of the tree. The needles, usually flat on the branch, were unusually whirled and thicker around the tree branches, which allows for more sunlight to be absorbed. Sitka Spruce is usually found growing among Western Hemlock and Western Red cedar, however this environment is not the usual habitat the Sitka Spruce would usually be found in. Sitka spruce can only be found on the portion of the ridge because of the ocean currents, this is the only area that receives summer-time fog, which Sitka spruces requires to thrive. The trees also seemed to have a weird shape, as they didn’t grow vertically, but curved at some aspects. The trees had some broken branches and were quite skinny due to the wind sculpting, and the curve the trees have, is also due to the wind sculpting. Some other plants that we saw at the top of the Ebey’s landing were Salal, Snowberry, Bracken fern, Tall Oregon Grape, and a Fishnet lichen. Fishnet Lichen was quite interesting as there has an “elasticity” in the middle of the webbing of the lichen. The lichen can be stretched a little, and return to its normal shape. A bird that we found flying in the branches of the trees at the top of the Ebey’s landing were Golden crowned Kinglets, who were very hyperactive and had a very high pitch call. The birds we found floating in the water, in search of food, were the Double-crested Cormorant, Horned Grebe, Pacific Loon, Common Merganser, and Surf Scoter. The Double-crested Cormorant was a dark brown to black color body with a yellow bill. The Horned Grebe has red eyes, and a dull tipped bill. The neck up to the cheek was white, while the top of the head was black. The rest of the body was a dark to light grey. The Pacific Loon has a dark brown to black back and a grey head. The top of the bill seems to be black as well and the bill is long and thin. The Common Merganser had an orange-red head, and an orange bill. The back of the body is grey on top, and lightens up to a pale white going down towards the underside of the body. The Surf Scoter had an oddly shaped bill, much larger in height than the other birds that we saw that day, with a vertical white patch along the bill. The head was black, and the body is a dark brown.

Time: 12:45 PM-5:45 PM

Temperature: 54 degrees Fahrenheit

Location: Ebey’s Landing

Weather: Cloudy with some sun

(1.) Landscape photo of the hillside, from across the Lagoon

(2.) Landscape photo along the beach

(3.) Detailed Landscape drawing and the reference. Photo taken while returning back to the car, climbing the side of the hill on the trail

At Ebey’s Landing, the class walked along the beach. It was a little breezy at the beach, but once we started walking, I eventually warmed up. The weather turned out pretty well as the sun came and went throughout the day. The first plant the class saw and identified was the American Searocket (Cackile endentula). It was interesting, as it tasted similarly to mustard. The flowering on the plant had four petals. This is interesting as most plants with four petals are found in the “cabbage” family, the Brassicas family, with plants including cabbage, broccoli, mustard, brussels sprouts, and kale. The American Searocket tends to grow on ocean beaches and moist/wet sandy beaches.

(4.) Photo of the American Searocket (Cackile endentula)

Walking along, I saw, possibly a Juvenile Bald Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). It looked similar to the other bald eagles that were flying about, except the head wasn’t white, but still brown with the rest of the body. While in flight, I saw that the wings had some white spotting underneath, along with the tail feathers underneath being some grey/white. The bill of the juvenile Bald Eagle was not the usual golden yellow that is seen in the adult, but rather a grey/black bill. I also saw a Common Raven (Corvus corax), as the tail was in a diamond shape, and the body size of the Raven was much larger than a Crow. The body was stark black, the head and bill is also longer than a crow.

Something that happened that was unexpected was a Juvenile Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) was fighting with whom I thought was a seagull, however was told it was an adult Northern Harrier. It was interesting as the adult Northern Harrier was so brightly white. The Juvenile Northern Harrier was a golden brown body color, while the adult was a pale grey body color. Underneath the adult Northern Harrier is black tips, with a white underbody, while the juvenile has black and white striped tips and a golden brown underbelly. But the tell-tale sign that it is a Northern Harrier is with the white rump from both Juvenile and adult Northern Harrier.

What was also interesting was that I found a Prickly Pear cactus (Opuntia), and a red bulbous cactus found in bundles. I didn’t really expect to see cactus, as I was under the assumption that cactus grow on dry, drought-like conditions, such as deserts, not alongside the beach and cliff.

(5.) Red Bulbous cacti

At the lagoon, there were tons of pickleweeds (Salicornia) packed along the edges of the brackish waters of the lagoon. Pickleweeds are edible and salty, and are typically found near or next to saltwater marshes. The way the plant looks is quite odd as there seems to be segments, similar to a finger, separated and branched off of one another. Near the pickleweeds, there were some Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia arbuscula), which were also found at the Mima mounds from the previous field trip.There were also many diving birds at the lagoons, such as Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola), Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser), Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus), a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca), and Finches.

(6. and 7.) Detailed drawings of the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) and the Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

(8. and 9.) Detailed drawings of the Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) and the Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

(10.) Photo of the Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia arbuscula)

Time: 6:36 PM

Location: Skagit Delta

Temperature 49 degrees Fahrenheit

Weather: Cloudy, windy

The moon was already out shining in the night. We arrived at the Skagit Delta a little after sunset, and went to an area known for the sighting of the Great Horned Owls. We stood quietly, while Tim played the calls of the Great Horned Owls. In the distance, you could hear lots of ducks quacking, as they were quite loud. We stood outside for about 15 minutes, continuously trying to search for the pair of Great Horned Owls however, we were not in luck, as we did not get to see the Magnificent Great Horned Owls.

Journal 7: Poetry in Nature

Date: November 15, 2018

Time: 3:54 PM- 4:30 PM

Temperature: 53 degrees Fahrenheit

Weather: Cloudy

Location: Mill Creek Nature Preserve

Hello again,

Today was an interesting day that didn’t go as I had expected. I arrived, as I do every week, at the Mill Creek Nature Preserve at 3:54 PM. As always, the entrance had some Eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) climbing up and down the cedar trees, chasing each other on the ground, and scavenging for food. Continuing to walk along the path, I saw 8 female and male Mallard ducks (Ana platyrhynchos) floating on the farthest end of the lake away from my location. Walking along some more, I look on the left, on the edge of the bridge, I saw the most beautiful pair, male and female, Wood ducks (Alix sponsa). The male Wood duck that stuck out was incredibly colorful. There was a round head with a drooping crest, a bright white “bridle”, and a long tail. The drooping crest is a green color on top, but at different angles and different lighting, the drooping crest looked a blue-purple-green mix. The eyes were red and round. The bill is orange with a black stripe along the top of the bill. The sides of the head is white and black, and the neck, breast, and rump is a red-brown color. The sides of the body has a small stripe of white and black, then a block of yellow. The back of the Wood duck was a mix of Black, white, blue, and purple. The female Wood duck had a white spot around the eye, and grayish, pale spotted flanks. The bill is a dark grey color, the main color of the head and body is gray. The breast and along the side of the body is spotted between light and dark grey. The back of the female Wood duck was mainly grey, until the end of the tips was a bluish purple color. From both sexes, there is a small bill, a drooping crest, and a long broad tail. The Wood duck is smaller in size than the Mallard duck. From the 50m photo, the trees are becoming more bare and the location is looking more depressing as the leaves are gone from the trees. The grasses are now turning yellow, but still mainly green. At the 1m photo, all of the fallen leaves are not a grey color and beginning to rot.

Photo of male and female Wood Ducks (Alix sponsa) 

Photo of Male Wood Duck (Alix sponsa)

Photo of Female Wood Duck (Alix sponsa)

Photo of all Mallard Ducks (Ana platyrhynchos) and Wood Ducks (Alix sponsa) paddling in the lake

Update photo at Mill Creek Nature Preserve at 50 sq. m.

Update photo at Mill Creek Nature Preserve at 1 sq. m.

Poem #1

I am wet and moist, slimy and gleaming

Slowly inching down a mossy filled rock.

Leaving behind a shiny trail.

I do not have a home on my back, like my lucky relatives,

But I seek refuge in the moist places such as fields, woods, and gardens.

I am also found under rocks, vegetation, and shaded areas.

When I extend, I am long and slender

But, I am small and thick when I compress.

I see with two long skinny drumsticks,

And smell with two small skinny drumsticks.

All of which move independently.

They move outward and inward,

Left and right, up and down.

I forage on leaves of plants.

Note: This is a description of a Garden Slug (Order: Stylommatophora) on a mossy rock.

Poem #2

Cloudy and gloomy, as clouds hover over me

Taunting with the moisture of rain

Slight breezes cuts at my skin.

Leaves of the Bigleaf Maple and Red Alder scatter across the ground

Creating a speckled path between leaves and pebbles.

The leaves connected on the trees turn colors,

Red, yellow, and orange,

Waiting for their time to graciously flutter to the ground

However, leaves that remain on the ground lose colors

From their red, yellow, and orange to brown to grey

The grasses are green beginning to turn yellow.

Note: This is a description of my broad landscape at the Mill Creek Nature Preserve.

Poem #3

Scurrying across the fields and grasses,

Climbing up and down the Western Hemlock trees,

Chasing one another as two friends play.

I scurry away when I sense danger is near, I hide away when predators are close.

During the winter, I eat and eat to get fat and stay warm.

I open the nuts with my small like hands, and carry my food in my cheeks to be eaten later.

The trees is a place called home for me and my friends and family.

I am most commonly seen throughout the day.

When I am seen, I have a bushy tail curled in the shape of a question mark,

I am usually a grey blob at first glance.

The way I move is in hill formations of “m’s”,

Hopping from my hind quarters and landing on my front quarters.

Note: This is a description of Eastern grey squirrels (Order: Rodentia) playing and chasing together.

Journal 6: Birds

Date: November 6, 2018

Time: 3:39 PM-5:17 PM

Temperature: 51- 48 degrees Fahrenheit

Weather: Dark, heavy clouds,wind, and rain (near end of the visit)

Location: Mill Creek Nature Preserve

Upon my return, I saw two small Eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) chasing one another in the grassy entrance, and up and down the trees nearby. The air was crisp of the cold wind blowing at my face. The sky was depressing as the sky was filled with clouds moving slowly, growing darker and heavier as the time became later. When I arrived at 3:39 PM, the temperature was 51 degrees fahrenheit. At my location, there hasn’t been much change, except for the difference of more leaves covering the ground. The majority of the leaves found on the ground were Bigleaf Maple (Acer Macrophyllum)  and Red Alder (Alnus rubra). The grasses found at the site is still a vibrant green and many colorful leaves still connected on the trees surrounding. Comparing between the 50m photo and the 1m photo, the contrast is extreme. The 50m photo shows vibrant green grasses and green trees, though slightly barren, while the 1m photo showed fallen leaves that are turning a dull grey color as the fallen leaves are losing their colorful fall leaves color.

 Update photo: 1 sq. meters

 

Update photo: 50 sq. meter

The first two birds I found at my location  were three Mallard, two female and one male, ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) and two female Gadwall ducks (Anas strepera). The male Mallard duck had a green luminescent head that luminescent of blue and purple at certain angles with black eyes, and a thin white stripe that circled around the top of the neck, and the female Mallard ducks had a light-dark brown head with black eyes, a dark brown stripe overlapping the eye. The bodies of the ducks were plump. The male ducks had white, grey, and a small portion of the luminescent blue purple color feathers along the back of the duck and a large brown portion in the front of the chest of the duck, while the duck with the light brown and dark brown head’s body had the same color scheme throughout the entire body. The bills of the green ducks were yellow, and the bill of the light and dark brown duck was a grey and brown mixture color. The female Gadwall ducks have very similar phenotypes as the female Mallard ducks, except for the luminescent blue purple feathers, the color is white. Both ducks seemed to don’t mind each other as they paddled around the lake. As I was observing, the ducks were dabbling for food and quacking. Also, while skimming through the water, the ducks put their beaks under the water and tosses some water onto themselves, as if they were washing themselves. There was also some Mallard and Gadwalls ‘resting’ as they float on top of the water. While they rest, they snuggle their head on their back, almost between their wings.

Sketches of female Gadwall (Anas strepera) dabbling and male Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) ducks on the lake

There were birds chirping all around the location, but finding where the source of the birds’ calls coming from was difficult. I looked at the general direction of the call with my eyes, then when I see movement, I would use the binoculars. However, it was difficult finding the birds as I had to change the focus through the binoculars for different distances and focuses through objects. There were some American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) flying above my location several hundred feet, maybe even a thousand feet. My thinking, as I saw many crows flying away from the same approximate location, was maybe predator nearby or a loud noise, such as a dog bark, scared the birds away. The way the crows flew, were mainly a flapping motion, but there was a small glide during the flight. The American Crow is colored black throughout the entire body.

Sketch of American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) in flight

This last bird was difficult to look for. The Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) was found chasing another small bird in a large shrub. When I noticed the bird, the wren didn’t stay very still, as it seemed to be quite twitchy. When the Wren was chasing the other bird, the flight was very brief and quick, the wings moved really quickly. And when the wren was resting briefly, it perched horizontally. The beak was a mixture of a blue and grey with a very high tail. The grey tail had some partial dark brown stripes. There was also a white stripe above the eye. When I looked in the bird field guide, I found it to be the Bewick’s Wren. The calls that I heard was similar to a squeaky toy but with a lower tone, there was also a short “ch-ch-ch-ch” sound. I’m not exactly sure if this is also from the same wren, but I also hear a high pitched whistle song that ends with a “Tweet-tweet-tweet”

Sketch of Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) on branch