MT. RAINIER - FREMONT LOOKOUT HIKE AND MT. GOATS

October 16th is not a day you would expect 70 degree temperatures at Sunrise Park at Mt. Rainier N.P.   But that's just what is was.  We had expected much cooler temp. at 7,000 feet so in a great oversight we brought no beer for lunch.  Some of us even brought no water.  Luckily the hike is only 5.6 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 800 feet...this is a little misleading since there is some up and down that likely makes the elevation gain and loss more than 800 feet, but it's still a rather easy hike.  The hike is in sub alpine and alpine mostly above treeline.  Views of Mt. Rainier are very close and jaw dropping.  On the way to the lookout we passed Frozen Lake (not frozen) which is the water supply for Sunrise facility.  Due to a low snow pack and very dry, hot summer the lake level is very low.  Within a 1/4 mile of the lookout we spotted a group of 14 Mountain Goats just below the trail so we plopped down and had lunch there completely passing on the short hike over to the lookout.  The goats were resting in the meadow but quickly rushed off  when something disturbed them...not humans.
They soon settled down again allowing another session on goat watching.   Again I have posted another non-marine item....well my excuse is "it's in the Puget Sound watershed".

Noelle and Mt. Rainier

Mt. Rainier and Burrows Mt.

Mt. Goats

Noelle on Fremont lookout trail

Noelle and Fremont Lookout trail

Mt. Goats

Mt. Goats

Fremont Lookout

Mt. Goats

Mt. Goats

 

What happens to a Pepsi bottle when it moves down from 7,000 feet to sea level

 

THE WHALE TRAIL LECTURE SERIES ENDS

The Whale Trail lecture series with Erich Hoyt came to an end last night with a lecture on Deep Sea Creatures, Ants, and Orcas.  That's a lot to cover in one lecture.  
He mentioned that during the World Ocean Census that certain areas of the deep ocean bottom seem to be dominated by species of sea cucumbers.  Sea cucumbers always get me thinking of just where we stand in the whole scheme of intelligent life...and why some people have such oversize egos.  If you study development of animals from egg to adult you may find reason to keep your ego in check.  The following will explain it all to you.

 

WHEN YOUR EGO GETS OUT OF HAND

REMEMBER THIS

1.   There are, among the animal kingdom two main ways animals develop.

2.   As the fertilized egg develops into a small ball of cells (bastula) there begins a small invagination that will grow into either the mouth or the anus.

3.   In protostomes (mouth first) this invagination becomes the animal’s mouth.  (example; the octopus)

4.   In deuterostomes (mouth second) the invagination becomes the anus (or more crudely the asshole). Example; sea cucumbers and HUMANS.

5.   So the sad truth is we are more closely related to the brainless sea cucumber than to the brainy octopus.

6.   And before we got our big mouths we were all just a bunch of little assholes.

7.   And lastly…some people’s personalities develop very early in life…which explains why some people become politicians and others suicide bombers.

NEW PUGET SOUND MARINE LIFE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND LINKS ADDED

I have added a PowerPoint presentation to the list under Puget Sound Marine Life in the right hand column. "Puget Sound Marine Life"
Also added are a number of new links under the Links heading also in the right hand column of the blog.  You can find a great deal of up to date information on the happenings in Puget Sound by checking these links.
Looks like the rainy season is upon us.......just means more rainbows....

 

NEW FISH SPECIES FOUND IN SALISH SEA

The latest survey has turned up some new fish species living in the Salish Sea.  Check this link for more information:
http://www.washington.edu/news/2015/09/30/known-fish-species-living-in-the-salish-sea-increases-in-new-report/

Link to NOAA report on fish species in Salish Sea
 http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/pp18.pdf

THE WHALE TRAIL LECTURE SERIES BY ERICH HOYT

 

The Whale Trail will present 3 lectures in Washington State by Erich Hoyt.  Dr. Hoyt is author of books on subjects ranging from deep ocean creatures, ants to whales.  His lecture schedule can be found on The Whale Trail website:  http://thewhaletrail.org/events-3

On Saturday Dr. Hoyt presented his lecture on Creatures of the Deep, from his book of the same title, on Saturna Island in British Columbia, Canada.

Saturna Island residents filled the hall for the presentation....and that meant many of the island's population of 305 were in the same location at one time. Saturna Island is one of the Southern Gulf Islands located just west, north and east of the U.S.A. Canadian border.  Yes I did mean west, north and east of the U.S.A.  If you are confused by this location just look at a map that inculdes the U.S. San Juan Islands along with Saturna.  Saturna is located on the west side of Georgia Strait as its location guarantees abundant marine life can be found in its waters.

Orca whales pass close to the southern shore of the island when Chinook salmon are returning to the Fraser River.  East Point is a common spot for Orca watchers to gather for a close up view as the whales pass. 

Many thanks to: SIMRES who hosted Erich's presentation for The Whale Trail, and treated The Whale Trail staff royally. SIMRES is a volunteer, non-profit organization bringing marine research and educational programs to Saturna Island. We encourage science and stewardship for a deeper understanding of our fragile marine ecosystem.   http://saturnamarineresearch.ca/aboutsimres.html

A special thanks to Jude and Marueen for a wonderful stay on Saturna Island.

Gretchen at East Point Saturna Is.

Black Oystercatcher Saturna Is.

East Point Saturna Island

Mt. Baker form Saturna Island

Hippo rock with fish Saturna Is.

East Point Saturna Island

East Point Saturna Is..

Sunrise from Saturna Island

B.C. Ferry to Saturna Island

Near Boat Pass Saturna Is.

Boat Pass Saturna Island

Saturna Island ferry dock - Great Pub here.

Orcas near Saturna Island

 

 



LATE SUMMER BIRDS AT ALKI

As summer gets ready to leave the scene, sure seems like fall already here, birds are returning to Puget Sound and others are migrating through.  It's also crabbing season, which you might not associate with birds but there is a connection in places.
Crabbers at Duwamish Head Park (Anchor Park) in West Seattle often use turkey drumsticks for bait in their crab traps...and when finished leave the drumsticks on the pier or throw them in the water......these can be messy people.  It's all OK with the local birds who make a good meal of the turkey....it's like Thanksgiving every day.  Birds eating birds.  In addition there is a group of Black Turnstones and Surfbirds that have returned from the north to the rocks at Duwamish Head.  Jack Block Park seems to have some attraction to for a large flock of Steller Jays....a dozen or more birds hanging out at the trail leading up from the parking lot.
A couple of sea lions are back....but harbor seal sightings have be in short supply so far.  Some strange signs also at Jack Block Park, but are they real signs?

Black Turnstone

Surfbird

Surfbird

Gull with turkey drumstick

Gull with turkey drumstick

Great Blue Heron eyeing drumstick

Great Blue Heron

Crow with drumstick



Crow with drumstick

Steller Jay

Steller Jay

Evidently this is not a real sign  Jack Block Park

Steller Jay

With peanut
 



SEA STAR WASTING SURVEY - LAST OF SUMMER 2015

The latest (8/28/15) Sea Star Wasting survey on the south side of the breakwater at S. Alki resulted in disappointing findings.  In total 32 Purple Stars were seen with 11 showing signs of SSWD.  This is a large increase in % and number of stars with SSWD from earlier this summer.  The reduction in total number counted has gone from 95 to the present 32.  These missing stars may have migrated elsewhere, or may have died from SSWD and been washed away.  It's also remotely possible they could be hiding deep inside the breakwater, but I doubt it.  The increase in diseased stars makes it more likely that the missing stars died and washed away, but that is impossible to know.
On a side note:  I counted 44 Keyhole Limpets on the south side of the breakwater.  Prior to SSWD I would be happy to find 6 or so on the breakwater.  So I'm guessing the lack of predatory stars has made life easier for the limpets and they have responded accordingly.....or they may just have come out from hiding deep inside the breakwater....which I doubt.

Keyhole Limpet

Purple Star with SSWD