The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group. It is a place to note any observations you have made of the world around you. Rain, sun, wind...insects, birds, flowers...meteorites, rocks...seasonal changes...all are worthy additions to the bucket. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.
May 20, 2015
Salish Sea, PNW
Yesterday we paddled around our nearby bay. It's been really really quiet lately now the ducks have migrated to summer breeding grounds and even the gulls are mostly on offshore islands nesting. It was too foggy to go far out but it was a low tide and quite calm, a pleasant day. We were heading back to shore, Mr O had beached his kayak and gotten out and I was about to ground when a seal swept under my kayak, popping up to look straight at me. Only one seal I know has ever done that, and I snapped a quick photo before it dived, hoping I'd be able to identify this individual by its fur pattern markings. It was! -- the same one I first came to know a year and a half ago. :)
Sightings of what I came to call the Friendly Seal have been few since last year, after frequent and utterly delightful encounters. I've bucketed about Friendly Seal several times, October 13, 2013, February 16, 2014 and June 20, 2014. You can catch up on the story there, and find out why I know this is the same individual.
A few moments from the story, including episodes in between buckets.
First encounter, sliding under the kayak, bumping it, playing tag, and following Mr O back to the beach. October 2013.
(All photos by me. In Lightbox...click to enlarge)
The following summer, 2014. The markings are more clear on her left side, but this view on her right side shows the same pattern as yesterday's. She pops her head up often, watching everything going on in the bay. Knows exactly where we are :)
Many close encounters. Usually she'd rub her belly against the bottom of the kayak, other times pace me from behind.
Last year the Tulalip Nation renovated their derelict fishing dock in the bay, removing the wooden pilings and deck, putting in all new steel pilings, a grated deck and a floating dock at the far end. The project took much of the year. In June the contractors set up an orange floating barrier to contain debris. The Friendly Seal enjoyed hauling out on it, dozing, warming up and keeping an eye on the doings in the bay. She did not mind my paddling by.
I noticed she kept a close eye on Mr O where he was working on the boat. She was very interested when he got into his kayak.
July 2014. All during the seal-pupping-season she stayed here in the bay rather than decamping to the outer islands. I think she was a youngster, too young to breed.
In September I was worried to see some strange white growths on her face around her eyes. Her behavior seemed normal, but this did not look good. There was nothing I could do but observe and hope she was ok.
November 2014. In the rain, a photo taken from shore.
And yesterday, watching me from a distance. I've seen her a few times from shore over the winter and she's not as "friendly" as she was in 2013 and 2014. My guess is she is growing up. Even if we don't have the close encounters as much, I'm thrilled to see her here, and grateful to know a particular seal, at least as much as I can, being a different species. How I wish I could join her swimming and diving freely in the bay.
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All nature observations welcome in the comments.
"Spotlight on Green News & Views" is posted every Saturday at 1:00 pm Pacific Time and Wednesday at 3:30 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.