Life on the Outer Coast

More than once this week it has rained over 3 inches, but I still didn't expect the amphibians to come into the house to get out of the rain. This morning, Ian found a rough-skinned newt walking across the kitchen floor. I wonder how long it has been inside. It can't have too happy in the house? Or is the humidity high enough everywhere in southeast.

The fork-tails are still present. I may have finally realized why they have such a name, the view from above is of a fan shaped tail, but yesterday I finally saw a clear view of the underside of the tail, and it looked much more forked.

There is one Epilobium angustifolium still blooming by Crescent Harbor. It must have germinated quite late, all of the others have been producing mature fruit for the last month.

Widgeons, mallards, common mergansers, savannah sparrows, black turnstones (40?), a sharp-shinned hawk, flicker and hairy woodpecker and yes, innumerable sea gulls at the Historical Park. The sharp shin tried for a sparrow and the flicker, but no luck. About 200 geese (Canada?) flew over by the Sage building. They seemed quite windblown (okay disorderly) in their flight.

This morning there was a raft of about 300 small geese or large ducks in Eastern Channel. Unfortunately it was raining so hard, even the spotting scope couldn't help get a clear view. All that I could tell for certain was that they didn't have any white patches. Maybe they were yesterdays blown about geese?