tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88356444521601610942024-03-18T20:34:17.928-08:00Arctic Smoke SignalsOdd postings from the far North.Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-58045709701175479162016-01-06T16:00:00.000-09:002016-01-06T21:20:17.175-09:00Green, Green, Skies<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A warm spell with scattered clouds here at our homestead in the
Colville River gave me a chance to view and photograph the northern lights in
temperatures 30-40 degrees warmer than I usually have to contend with. Even if
the lights were not that active I wasn’t going to miss a chance to be out and
not freeze my nose or cheeks on a cold camera</span>.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Being outside when the temperature was only +20F/-29C was like
watching the light show just after freeze up in late September not early
January. I made my first trip out to film just after midnight, and at that time
the sky was covered with various shades of green aurora. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlAWSI_BjPHMpMKThfj9Td6JHoGUsNOZSRo46N7qxtHAAxzN7usG1wYdiYRlyuAXwi5CNt3wxEgraOJdovOQwSXHHFH6wQ7c3vqDiR54OUEkUnKI_aGfal5nNukPjTsMaQs1jVvaA4L_O/s1600/Aurora_House6Jan_6433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlAWSI_BjPHMpMKThfj9Td6JHoGUsNOZSRo46N7qxtHAAxzN7usG1wYdiYRlyuAXwi5CNt3wxEgraOJdovOQwSXHHFH6wQ7c3vqDiR54OUEkUnKI_aGfal5nNukPjTsMaQs1jVvaA4L_O/s320/Aurora_House6Jan_6433.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shimming lights over the homestead</td></tr>
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</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">They were not especially active but at times there was just a
hint of red on the edges of some of the curtain type displays. All the big
sheet type of aurora remained green and covered so much of the sky the snow
took on a green cast at times. there was also a band of clouds to the east of
me and it was glowing orange-red from all the oil field lights in that
direction. After about an hour the northern lights faded and so I took a coffee
break and waited to see if they might come back.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAj1RuRpgrtSgB3IK926JlA5ydd49u536q956UtogfsZAbDwwYUELYb4zx4WLx7ETj3BQFDhH8zzsuNKnFOxcSrkDaXvxK8gGxijw8w05YtFL1Q0EKMHLs6N1iiIO134qKGQE2PDlh6zA/s1600/Aurora_Inuksuks_6373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAj1RuRpgrtSgB3IK926JlA5ydd49u536q956UtogfsZAbDwwYUELYb4zx4WLx7ETj3BQFDhH8zzsuNKnFOxcSrkDaXvxK8gGxijw8w05YtFL1Q0EKMHLs6N1iiIO134qKGQE2PDlh6zA/s320/Aurora_Inuksuks_6373.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">In this photo most of the aurora is a sheet but there is also
some descending curtains that have a very weak mix of red along their upper
edges.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsKTQ1-mxko6DgwWQbhk3FG570otJFEh21o0T9gtrgjkv3l8xy4mN2KW6zACyv6yBpynwTckj9bo6sRRyUfcZQdJQu17QyMEHELToI6JPIMc1NVnU8-e89ujCw_frpGrXg8LgZdY7Y30D/s1600/Aurora%2526OilfieldLights_6394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsKTQ1-mxko6DgwWQbhk3FG570otJFEh21o0T9gtrgjkv3l8xy4mN2KW6zACyv6yBpynwTckj9bo6sRRyUfcZQdJQu17QyMEHELToI6JPIMc1NVnU8-e89ujCw_frpGrXg8LgZdY7Y30D/s320/Aurora%2526OilfieldLights_6394.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here is a photo showing lots of green with the cloud cover
reflecting orange from all the lights on the horizon.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgV-BXN9zv7qJHmJqwDJtGqhPLUKtxvr2bzY39P5dY4RNQ4uEwn5U6To5fyvD2WGwlfcTXRlssYfLI2w8HKzHcjCcfcPFUEooUY4IFAquOd-u0R0OwPs0Mm57mvgJqGt7tAzxKVwFlrow/s1600/AuroraGreenBurst6Jan_6428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgV-BXN9zv7qJHmJqwDJtGqhPLUKtxvr2bzY39P5dY4RNQ4uEwn5U6To5fyvD2WGwlfcTXRlssYfLI2w8HKzHcjCcfcPFUEooUY4IFAquOd-u0R0OwPs0Mm57mvgJqGt7tAzxKVwFlrow/s320/AuroraGreenBurst6Jan_6428.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here we have a all green auroral corona with its rayed bands
spreading out in all directions.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBe7yTw_2eQPgaN7p_EuIwp29BBQnjE4-BCOk_SZK250zYEFRUIyofaEbjqP6mD9l-EmAgC2lJPz-Xk-hrgW3W_GgikD5oVTGvlGzzfXCUwvQvlHC-vM2AmYfwjplxUHn2vR14n7L2n_lS/s1600/AuroraGreenSwirl_6415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBe7yTw_2eQPgaN7p_EuIwp29BBQnjE4-BCOk_SZK250zYEFRUIyofaEbjqP6mD9l-EmAgC2lJPz-Xk-hrgW3W_GgikD5oVTGvlGzzfXCUwvQvlHC-vM2AmYfwjplxUHn2vR14n7L2n_lS/s320/AuroraGreenSwirl_6415.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> A lovely green swirl pattern developed as the first active
episode started to fade away. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TwRj_Kz4OcSSw_4062hqyGViAPodh6fgRLx_z-q8D61xB-2iSqXpWcP8CnQnF4mGMMJH-Bf71iyyM8xHQy1sIo8iC4vU9xOZWFs3sk5odwykfsM5kdyWwr-2qxzVqthVa3ghSri23mUU/s1600/Aurora-ice6Jan_2945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TwRj_Kz4OcSSw_4062hqyGViAPodh6fgRLx_z-q8D61xB-2iSqXpWcP8CnQnF4mGMMJH-Bf71iyyM8xHQy1sIo8iC4vU9xOZWFs3sk5odwykfsM5kdyWwr-2qxzVqthVa3ghSri23mUU/s320/Aurora-ice6Jan_2945.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">I went back out two hours later and the lights were more on the
horizon in narrow bands, the big sheet type had disappeared. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5tMQZOn5j5JMtBkcLIC0cXiCVD6RbTi1Zn4w-jjQI8LM898aHbAILL1kR9wrLvDY5jbOkjIW8P7wGqPT-1GIDk4-Se3p09i9n3K_W8ebawX70x61JcuS4ChBKf9m7vwm_Nv-xiIhVHbA/s1600/Fox-aurora_2943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5tMQZOn5j5JMtBkcLIC0cXiCVD6RbTi1Zn4w-jjQI8LM898aHbAILL1kR9wrLvDY5jbOkjIW8P7wGqPT-1GIDk4-Se3p09i9n3K_W8ebawX70x61JcuS4ChBKf9m7vwm_Nv-xiIhVHbA/s320/Fox-aurora_2943.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I filmed a couple neat formations and when I got back in the
house and looked at one of my shots there was a red fox off in the distance, I’m
sure wondering what I was doing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhHwyiI340UljhfK9HNMOr3zcs7UMSQOSfSCckinZoI1piuPOYZzLu5rhu1Osqdx-7JBawFGUr2SamRfoGGb92Dsm6-KDRiyvxRkjTrK2W1EskUiHQgLursalPq6Rrq1AQqhmswptevoH/s1600/RedFox-night_2948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhHwyiI340UljhfK9HNMOr3zcs7UMSQOSfSCckinZoI1piuPOYZzLu5rhu1Osqdx-7JBawFGUr2SamRfoGGb92Dsm6-KDRiyvxRkjTrK2W1EskUiHQgLursalPq6Rrq1AQqhmswptevoH/s320/RedFox-night_2948.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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Here is a photo of the fox that I managed to get just as I was getting
camera gear ready to go in the house. The fox was running about looking for
scrapes that my dogs may have left laying around. A special way to end a lovely
night of aurora watching.Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0Anachlik Island, AK, USA70.42656477124288 -150.4069519042968870.415925271242884 -150.44729240429689 70.437204271242877 -150.36661140429686tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-86421900194581595282015-12-26T08:30:00.000-09:002015-12-26T16:45:03.385-09:00Christmas Full Moon 2015Clearing skies gave me the opportunity to film the full moon this Christmas season, one that doesn’t come come around very often and the next one won’t be until 2034 . Our stretch of clear weather also brought our coldest weather of the season with the temperature at –32F/-26C Christmas morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirr0eBnhLucjqaVgIg_ibSa-dPsncid_zhmu3d0l7ez_gLxYrpHufxMMI8DbFT5JKGsGi9OIQFemdYs_nEhUcoDwddowM1WQJqHb8-8zOA4V5EowketiI0EfMut9tMF5qHW8Lpp2ourqW/s1600/ChristmasEve-Moon-Halo_6285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirr0eBnhLucjqaVgIg_ibSa-dPsncid_zhmu3d0l7ez_gLxYrpHufxMMI8DbFT5JKGsGi9OIQFemdYs_nEhUcoDwddowM1WQJqHb8-8zOA4V5EowketiI0EfMut9tMF5qHW8Lpp2ourqW/s320/ChristmasEve-Moon-Halo_6285.jpg" title="Moon with 22 degree halo" width="320" /></a>On the 24th, the sky was covered with a thin overcast layer and the moon was showing a 22 degree halo for most of the morning. At other times the moon was visible through thicker clouds that didn’t have the necessary ice crystals for the formation of halos or arcs. Christmas Day broke bright and clear with visibility greater than 25 miles, just what I needed for my project I had in mind for this day. I wanted to film the setting full moon once it descended low enough to be effected by the inversion layer that creates mirages. In order to be able to do this I needed a very clear horizon to the north as that is where the moon would be setting today.<br />
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While waiting for the moon to move around to the north I filmed it with various objects around the homestead. There was nice contrast with the moon and some of the willow bushes covered with thick frost and a nice moon beam shimmering across our lake ice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb590-xS1hyphenhyphenIjtzyUtXLEXMo1axYQeW2UmUj7QPCQkJrpvkCqPmdu8HoqVJL0eqDQxwTxc_1wDZYPkSFP32oJJKyI253MeI2l4IO390ZQ3e3NpORygKor2ku8NaPSJEmtDEj6HCLPfeiTi/s1600/ChristmasMoon-frost_2827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb590-xS1hyphenhyphenIjtzyUtXLEXMo1axYQeW2UmUj7QPCQkJrpvkCqPmdu8HoqVJL0eqDQxwTxc_1wDZYPkSFP32oJJKyI253MeI2l4IO390ZQ3e3NpORygKor2ku8NaPSJEmtDEj6HCLPfeiTi/s320/ChristmasMoon-frost_2827.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBlNmQWac6xQ5cHeiy4ZjN8qjnN24lLPuwyoocnDTv2zNHZ3eoy4tFCoK94dFRsvzwlWG0gFM8lMw0tk_y12G8KpmpgDYMwCvAKXd7ERTHQKNw44QFV0x6WP90cmGrfGlBdfjVsndLhYv/s1600/CM_LakeIce_2820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBlNmQWac6xQ5cHeiy4ZjN8qjnN24lLPuwyoocnDTv2zNHZ3eoy4tFCoK94dFRsvzwlWG0gFM8lMw0tk_y12G8KpmpgDYMwCvAKXd7ERTHQKNw44QFV0x6WP90cmGrfGlBdfjVsndLhYv/s320/CM_LakeIce_2820.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The final moment arrived around 11AM when I started my project which lasted until 12:25PM. With the temperature holding at –31F, I was glad that the wind had dropped from yesterday’s 14 mph wind and a wind chill of –54F. My camera battery had a full charge when I started, but with the cold it was blinking and about to shut the camera down when I took my last photo of the series #115.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuBVEuc_cEPLye9IVXCAkW-brtcSGc8RJ5x__bfp7IZOUJwvOScp3W_1SGVHcs8u5xuRk66F0i17KfR_dtmzT6ad2KpM9RnqtUX9SUV7a2cdr4kgCtqbsyKVIBu7cQUowL-MDf_IHNPaR/s1600/ChristmasDayMoon_8575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuBVEuc_cEPLye9IVXCAkW-brtcSGc8RJ5x__bfp7IZOUJwvOScp3W_1SGVHcs8u5xuRk66F0i17KfR_dtmzT6ad2KpM9RnqtUX9SUV7a2cdr4kgCtqbsyKVIBu7cQUowL-MDf_IHNPaR/s320/ChristmasDayMoon_8575.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0ZBk-MASDwEb5u8NHr_p92ULT1oskt9ZK0s4ZS-LdmBmPNIzKWZVpWfU_oO4pQDtH3Nb3gZArnQOSSVU9LYzlUA520L910TEgBI8mZtQSf4jDrzT4u8Veh1cOszdVcjgIOT7p5AqqIgo/s1600/ChristmasMoonMirage1_8578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0ZBk-MASDwEb5u8NHr_p92ULT1oskt9ZK0s4ZS-LdmBmPNIzKWZVpWfU_oO4pQDtH3Nb3gZArnQOSSVU9LYzlUA520L910TEgBI8mZtQSf4jDrzT4u8Veh1cOszdVcjgIOT7p5AqqIgo/s320/ChristmasMoonMirage1_8578.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Start of the series of photos as the moon starts showing the inversion causing mirage effect. This second photo also has a small green flash on top and what looks like a orange one on the bottom as refraction is causing colors to separate along the edges of the moon. Time 11:41 AM<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDs6iKdatR9_en7w1stNdiC7c18p6vDevFw8B_gM9n-q0oN-50ytk9BQbuavlhp0y3y8XTv3NIvsmIJKiTu5rSqq5OEvssUY9xAgAOzbd26AxEWwmN1HRS8Jc1rB8tjno7szUyp75YE2i/s1600/ChristmasMoonMarige2_8601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDs6iKdatR9_en7w1stNdiC7c18p6vDevFw8B_gM9n-q0oN-50ytk9BQbuavlhp0y3y8XTv3NIvsmIJKiTu5rSqq5OEvssUY9xAgAOzbd26AxEWwmN1HRS8Jc1rB8tjno7szUyp75YE2i/s320/ChristmasMoonMarige2_8601.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Time 11:49 AM moon is being distorted more on the bottom as it gets closer to the horizon. Notice another capture of a green flash.<br />
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Time 11:54 AM another green flash can be seen and the moon has been pulled apart on the bottom.<br />
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Time 11:59 AM in this shot the two halves look almost like mirror images as the moon looks to be touching the horizon.<br />
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Time 12:03 PM Here the mirage has taken on an almost rectangle shape with a small anvil and green flash on top.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMVPw73H-DKAQ5FeSXB728zhR8i9M84EtfvOPg3cMcsj88BCj8pan2n8h7YWOqO9W4hPkUiaso0rOMnD7oM3wIuilfMwSt0zmW2J_mAtTMxlwLtG5sYrjemzu9NV2oYQt9R3fQbIISdf5/s1600/Christmas-Moon-Mirage6_8683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMVPw73H-DKAQ5FeSXB728zhR8i9M84EtfvOPg3cMcsj88BCj8pan2n8h7YWOqO9W4hPkUiaso0rOMnD7oM3wIuilfMwSt0zmW2J_mAtTMxlwLtG5sYrjemzu9NV2oYQt9R3fQbIISdf5/s320/Christmas-Moon-Mirage6_8683.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Time 12:16 PM now just two thin strips as last of moon mirage is about to disappear. This is where my battery gave up and since there wasn’t much more to see I didn’t put in a fresh one. Also even with my fur parka and other heavy gear I was chilled and ready to snuggle up the warm wood stove for a spell.<br />
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It was fun watching the moon go from a round shape to one that was constantly shifting and becoming more flattened or elongated. To add to the thrill, I was also able to see and catch on film several green flashes. A green flash is caused by refraction causing color separation when the moon’s disk is close to the horizon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ujKrblOrowvCcyHzEYBHZDxCTMGwzelMisv2fh5ZO2PRldNKhhVqE0kkqZdiNHdG4KmDzL4Tl-CIsJZ1a-6jCEBIke97GEqnxWWaWSy1YA1xXe0GF58M6nZLNXv9ktp-ZBOtTshWurWT/s1600/Jim25Dec-0964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ujKrblOrowvCcyHzEYBHZDxCTMGwzelMisv2fh5ZO2PRldNKhhVqE0kkqZdiNHdG4KmDzL4Tl-CIsJZ1a-6jCEBIke97GEqnxWWaWSy1YA1xXe0GF58M6nZLNXv9ktp-ZBOtTshWurWT/s200/Jim25Dec-0964.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />As a side note, I was actually filming the moon below the horizon for the last 20minutes or so as atmospheric refraction causes a vertical shift of about half a degree. Since the moon’s angular diameter is also half a degree the moon is really below the horizon when the moon’s disk appears to touch the horizon.<br />
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Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com1Helmericks Airport, Deadhorse, AK 99510, USA70.43041749999999 -150.3911590999999870.419776499999983 -150.4314996 70.4410585 -150.35081859999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-57860025269146513372014-05-14T20:34:00.000-08:002014-05-15T10:46:29.357-08:00Spring Birding<p>After a day of high winds and snow showers, the bright sunshine today made one want to get out for a birding trip. It would most likely be the last one by snow machine since we are just starting our break up period, and flowing water would stop land travel off our home island.</p> <p>Even with the bright sun, it was a chilly day with a brisk wind out of the southwest and the temperature never got above +34F while I was traveling about. I headed up river from our home and checked out some of the islands that have a sand dune system. The winter wind move sand from the dunes and the snow in this area melts out sooner and creates feeding area for the returning geese sooner than the less sandy areas. In one area next to a small frozen lake there were 50 greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) feeding. Most had already separated into pairs as they spread out over the tundra feeding in the wet areas. </p> <p>About 4 miles up river I started seeing well defined shore leads as the advancing first water of break up moved our way. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E8wzAFd7Ku8/U3ULCAfeXZI/AAAAAAAAAsA/qDGXHExu3-w/s1600-h/flood-waters_662710.jpg"><img title="flood waters_6627" style="display: inline" alt="flood waters_6627" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WHVvP_1Qk70/U3ULD7-ZxVI/AAAAAAAAAsI/KoIp-_ydIRM/flood-waters_6627_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="161"></a></p> <p>View looking up river with the green bands of the shore leads on each side of the deep water channel.</p> <p>Besides the white-fronted geese seen feeding who were local birds that would be nesting in a couple weeks, several flocks were seen moving west. There were also a few snow geese mixed in with these white-fronts heading farther to the west to nest.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FqeKw9GRoV4/U3ULFhKQ6SI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/0HeH1wztUnY/s1600-h/gwfg1_66324.jpg"><img title="gwfg1_6632" style="display: inline" alt="gwfg1_6632" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2vgSP8FvZ1E/U3ULHb2W0YI/AAAAAAAAAsY/IVT1tnBV27s/gwfg1_6632_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="161"></a></p> <p> Greater White-fronted Geese </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-poUuyN10N6Q/U3ULJAerfTI/AAAAAAAAAsg/JLqr_TFvBOE/s1600-h/sngo1_66236.jpg"><img title="sngo1_6623" style="float: left; display: inline" alt="sngo1_6623" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Qwmqf4Tgb3k/U3ULKipR29I/AAAAAAAAAso/M0KEFeon3f8/sngo1_6623_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" align="left" height="161"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--33s-WTt56k/U3ULMODWTwI/AAAAAAAAAsw/7U_RK_HcSQU/s1600-h/sngo2_66354.jpg"><img title="sngo2_6635" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 25px; display: inline" alt="sngo2_6635" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jB1g8Wkq5eg/U3ULNbwfbTI/AAAAAAAAAs4/t3l5t1P_EPs/sngo2_6635_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="161"></a></p> <p> Snow Geese migrating westward.</p> <p>I covered 14 miles in my travels and saw three new “first of the year” birds on my travels. They were a pair of Hoary Redpolls feeding on grass seeds poking out of a snow patch, a flock of Pomarine Jaegers (Stercorarius pomarinus) migrating east, and a pair of Tundra Swans traveling further to the west.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qEKVMcwE538/U3ULPEjI_zI/AAAAAAAAAtA/jVLaViUxTdE/s1600-h/poja1_66304.jpg"><img title="poja1_6630" style="float: left; display: inline" alt="poja1_6630" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9Nq1Em33PDU/U3ULQ8eP94I/AAAAAAAAAtI/2ly_ydXoq5w/poja1_6630_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" align="left" height="161"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> There were a few dark phase individuals in the flock of Pomarine’s , but the majority of them were the light phase with their white bellies.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Most of the Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) I saw were males on territory and the females were near by I’m sure hiding in the patch work of snow and bare tundra. I did find one pair and I was able to get a photo of her. She still has a ways to go to get changed into her summer plumage.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Iv9_f2jAQMY/U3ULSzYB06I/AAAAAAAAAtQ/R2KkO1ZlP4k/s1600-h/wipt-F_66364.jpg"><img title="wipt-F_6636" style="float: left; display: inline" alt="wipt-F_6636" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LPkIdOK6mCE/U3ULUYzTQCI/AAAAAAAAAtY/f_RkU_Lo9zo/wipt-F_6636_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" align="left" height="161"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> Female willow ptarmigan changing into her summer plumage.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>On the way back home I stopped at a nice dry bluff to see what might be starting to turn green. Grasses are not showing any new growth yet, but I found several fresh moth cocoons and puffball mushrooms from last fall that showed the hole blown out in the top when dispersing their spores before freeze up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-APa1p3YKliE/U3ULWdkm6UI/AAAAAAAAAtg/CjfT0berXnU/s1600-h/cocoon_6641%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="cocoon_6641" style="float: left; display: inline" alt="cocoon_6641" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2OQ3FSWLkNc/U3ULYCyg4PI/AAAAAAAAAto/J8WsF9N9YKc/cocoon_6641_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" align="left" height="161"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KiKn7cSPhvg/U3ULbXnXaQI/AAAAAAAAAtw/3qx0G-9vGAM/s1600-h/puffBall_6646%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="puffBall_6646" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 43px; display: inline" alt="puffBall_6646" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-POOoGEq44wU/U3ULctHWhDI/AAAAAAAAAt4/2sYDxORqlB8/puffBall_6646_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="161"></a></p> <p>From this location I took a photo back towards the homestead, which was 3.5 miles away to show how much snow still covered the tundra. Overall it was a wonderful trip and besides the birds, I also saw 1 red fox and 15 arctic ground squirrels.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I7mgin-dbhY/U3ULedKAt6I/AAAAAAAAAuA/OQuwrw17inY/s1600-h/Home14May_6647%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Home14May_6647" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Home14May_6647" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4sNBsH3lLPo/U3ULgMXbmeI/AAAAAAAAAuI/p4C-rFSL8yk/Home14May_6647_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="161"></a></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-20775283227960980662013-06-18T11:46:00.000-08:002013-06-18T11:52:48.576-08:00Halos, Fog Bows, and Light Pillars.<p><font size="2">The long winters provide one with plenty of opportunities to observe objects created by various types of ice crystals in the atmosphere. Some close to the ground, others high above. I will cover some of the more common ice halos I have seen and filmed, but if you are interested in more detail on these and the much rarer ones I suggest checking out some of the excellent web sites that cover atmospheric optics.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Fog Bows:</strong></font></p> <p>Fog bows are also called white bows, mist bows, or cloud bows and are usually formed when the fog layer is dissipating and the sun is starting to shine through. Rain bow colors and size are affected by the size of the drops in which they form. Rain drops that are 0.1mm or less are almost colorless and are found in fog and clouds, and while fog bows are smaller in diameter than rain bows they tend to be wider. You can also have a lunar fog bow, but they are much rarer. The very small <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Luzl33PwlgU/UcC6Dz_xZiI/AAAAAAAAAoc/RompbNPHe-g/s1600-h/October_Bow_7368%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img title="October_Bow_7368" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 4px 4px 6px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="October_Bow_7368" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Nd6NZiALDdo/UcC6Fu4OuUI/AAAAAAAAAok/Ubt47LiYjYg/October_Bow_7368_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="168"></a>water droplets do not freeze at zero Celsius and so unlike a rainbow, you can have fog bows forming in temperatures below freezing.</p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qlisJqP9tx8/UcC6HPQ6LfI/AAAAAAAAAos/Eyq_WPHMwlo/s1600-h/FogBow_Aurora-BigDipper%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="FogBow_Aurora-BigDipper" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 4px 0px 6px 4px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="FogBow_Aurora-BigDipper" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kd_3jRMtQGc/UcC6MuWWAvI/AAAAAAAAAo0/M_zJFG0xhw0/FogBow_Aurora-BigDipper_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="169"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="3"><em>Photo on the left is a sunlight fog bow in early October arcing over our Homestead.</em></font></p> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="3">The second photo on the right shows a lunar fog bow with a hint of aurora borealis in the night sky.</font></em></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Sun & Light Pillars:</strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oPt-ll-dQBI/UcC6NmFWzxI/AAAAAAAAAo8/WvpWJcM9_1o/s1600-h/IMG_5644%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5644" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 8px 4px 4px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_5644" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DNBm7RbGTUM/UcC6O97zo8I/AAAAAAAAApE/whNyxiOOyhI/IMG_5644_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="166" height="246"></a></font></p> <p>Sun Pillars are created by reflection of sunlight through ice plate crystals as they fall towards the <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dKeQ2AYMG0k/UcC6P6ccW9I/AAAAAAAAApM/GdhWVbZKCkg/s1600-h/Ruby-Antlers-Sunset_0742%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Ruby-Antlers-Sunset_0742" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 6px 0px 6px 6px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Ruby-Antlers-Sunset_0742" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DWFxAjKNLVA/UcC6Qs6LlII/AAAAAAAAApU/WA7_TPGh5_E/Ruby-Antlers-Sunset_0742_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="166" height="246"></a>ground with their bases horizontal. This acts like a microscopic mirror reflecting the sun's image up or down depending on which side of the sun the crystals are. Light Pillars are formed from the same ice crystals as those creating a sun pillar, but from an artificial light source on the ground.</p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="3"><em>Both photos show the setting sun with a tall light beam shinning above it. The picture on the right also has a faint tangent arc which is covered in more detail below.</em></font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Z8SYwcOjhFk/UcC6Rv6HpII/AAAAAAAAApc/hSC123Hv1oU/s1600-h/Frost_LightPillar-2-6_6095%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Frost_LightPillar-2-6_6095" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 4px 6px 4px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Frost_LightPillar-2-6_6095" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AoFiX5tLCsY/UcC6S-DPyuI/AAAAAAAAApk/vXaSHa1btU0/Frost_LightPillar-2-6_6095_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="166" height="246"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3YwzRVFSaPQ/UcC6UCteZBI/AAAAAAAAAps/nJaBPWOOG4I/s1600-h/ColoredLightbeams_1360%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="ColoredLightbeams_1360" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 4px 0px 4px 4px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="ColoredLightbeams_1360" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I4znQ6RwkWY/UcC6UwwbLPI/AAAAAAAAAp0/Jd5YUGnMHTA/ColoredLightbeams_1360_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="168"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3"><em><font color="#c0504d">These Two photos show the different colors that develop from an artificial light source.</font></em> </font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Atmospheric Halos:</strong></font></p> <p><strong>Ice Halos.........</strong>ice halos are formed by tiny ice crystals that create rings and different arcs depending on the hexagonal shape of the crystal, which can be narrow columns or thin plates. Both shapes refract and reflect the sun or moon light creating rings and at times various arcs around them.</p> <p>The most common ice halo is the 22 degree one, but if the cloud cover isn't complete or gets too thick, you may only see part of the halo. If conditions are right for a bright halo it will have a red tinge to the inner part of the circle facing the sun. The halo is caused by refraction of sun or moonlight as it passes through the small hexagonal ice crystals, and will be fainter in the moon light.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JrEjGC-JjHc/UcC6WIsfvzI/AAAAAAAAAp8/jiFvKoXAEko/s1600-h/Moon-Jupiter-Halo%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Moon-Jupiter-Halo" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Moon-Jupiter-Halo" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-skkDasjutNs/UcC6W94PdyI/AAAAAAAAAqE/peh5jOJR1HE/Moon-Jupiter-Halo_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="328" height="231"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="3"><em>This is a photo of a 22 degree lunar halo, also visible is a lower and upper tangent arc.<br></em></font></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4Y1L_rj9Qe0/UcC6YjFbeNI/AAAAAAAAAqM/EgX2iYsdeG4/s1600-h/Halo-Clouds_7277%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Halo-Clouds_7277" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 4px 0px 4px 4px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Halo-Clouds_7277" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-70TjkqvMidw/UcC6bM5huxI/AAAAAAAAAqU/Ly0vM3BS5l4/Halo-Clouds_7277_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="169"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="3"><em>A 22 degree halo developed as the sun was about to set in the south in early winter.</em></font></p> <p> </p> <p>Some of the rarer arcs seen in conjunction with a halo are tangent arcs, parhelia, parhelic circle, and the circumzenithal arc.</p> <p><strong>Parhelia</strong>.....also called sun dogs are bright patches seen near the edge of a 22 degree halo. They are caused by refraction of hexagonal crystals and can be seen with out a halo or just one bright patch may be visible and is called a parhelion. If the source of light is from the moon they are called parselena or moon dogs.<br><strong>Parhelic Circle</strong>........at times one may see a colorless band parallel to the horizon and level with the sun, this is called the parhelic circle. In rare instances it can form a complete circle opposite to the direction of the sun. <br><strong>Tangent Arc</strong> ... When the sun is low a colored arc can form at the top of the halo, looking like a bird in silhouette, or short spikes. They can also form at the bottom of the halo as the sun increases in elevation, and they are called either a upper or lower tangent arc.<br><strong>Circumzenithal Arc</strong> .. the circumzenithal arc is formed from the same type of crystal as the parhelia, but tend to be brighter with more color than parhelia. In fact they can rival a rainbow for color and brightness, but they differ in that these arcs are on the same side as the sun with the red color closest to the sun with the curve up not down as in a bow.</p> <p><font size="2"></font> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OqNcirxxjUE/UcC6cliEeqI/AAAAAAAAAqc/ldxDam5vwtM/s1600-h/Midnight%252520Sundogs_3423%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Midnight Sundogs_3423" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 4px 4px 4px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Midnight Sundogs_3423" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JzpgQOzYtKg/UcC6dueXXjI/AAAAAAAAAqk/Yv5oiT0T14E/Midnight%252520Sundogs_3423_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="166"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="3">Setting sun with parhelia/sun dogs on the edge of the 22 degree halo.</font></em></p> <p><font size="2"></font></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IEoUbtMJUB0/UcC6eh3uqRI/AAAAAAAAAqs/9EBG3idjzHw/s1600-h/BlueMoonHalo_2009%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="BlueMoonHalo_2009" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 4px 4px 4px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BlueMoonHalo_2009" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xwvqs4jyiuk/UcC6fUPnkHI/AAAAAAAAAq0/8tFSWY-Zv-c/BlueMoonHalo_2009_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="166"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="3">This photo shows the white parhelic circle passing through the sun and extending out past the halo. There also weak sun dogs at the edge of the halo.</font></em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-376wLSCwVhk/UcC6gezEPEI/AAAAAAAAAq8/C7X8eCwzoE0/s1600-h/Tangent%252520Arc_7460%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Tangent Arc_7460" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 4px 4px 4px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Tangent Arc_7460" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RSkvXGlapxU/UcC6hQet-oI/AAAAAAAAArE/IbxDlaKvZlU/Tangent%252520Arc_7460_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="169"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="3">Here is a good view of a upper tangent arc.</font></em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-woyidPJkaeI/UcC6ir7RAiI/AAAAAAAAArM/3BdTv0583e0/s1600-h/circumzenithal-arc60%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="circumzenithal-arc60" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 4px 4px 4px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="circumzenithal-arc60" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-um5cUnt4_JY/UcC6jtz0ekI/AAAAAAAAArU/qIq-Hdx0_jY/circumzenithal-arc60_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="166"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="3">Here we have the bright circumzenithal arc, which is seen above the 22 degree halo and upper tangent if visible.</font></em></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-60005366253310710052013-06-15T13:01:00.000-08:002013-06-15T13:46:39.225-08:00Spring Flooding 2013<p> </p> <p><font size="3">Our winter wasn’t as cold as last years, but we had more snow which set us up for serious flooding if the right conditions were met. Winter did not want to leave and we were still having very cold temperatures into the month of May. Usually we experience a few days of melting at the end of April or beginning of May, not this year. On the first of May the night time temperature dropped to –20F/ –29C and it wasn’t until after the middle of May before we had temperatures getting above freezing. On the 1st of May I took the monthly ice thickness in the Colville River by our house and even with 17 inches/43cm of snow on top of the ice it was still 68 inches/172.7cm thick. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DLgQo3n_8CM/UbzgJrvNNKI/AAAAAAAAAl0/X01sesY_XBI/s1600-h/MayIce1-285450.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 2px 0px 2px 125px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8eim-gRbJO0/UbzgLFJ8CUI/AAAAAAAAAl8/7bX5ESlvOt0/MayIce1-2854_thumb47.jpg?imgmax=800" width="286" height="189"></a> <font color="#c0504d" size="4"><em>Standing on snow machine to start the drilling operation to get through the thick ice.</em></font></p> <p><font size="3">The early arriving Greater White-fronted Geese had a rough two weeks before there was much melting providing water and bare ground for feeding. Our Snow Buntings were three weeks later than the yearly average with the first male showing up at the feeder on May 6th.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EqEasSvud-c/UbzgND63moI/AAAAAAAAAmE/PTZkeNJJSoI/s1600-h/SpringSNBU13_5272%25255B23%25255D.jpg"><img title="SpringSNBU13_5272" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SpringSNBU13_5272" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rbZp3MO6L1I/UbzgOyyuThI/AAAAAAAAAmM/t0kf1kTwjzs/SpringSNBU13_5272_thumb%25255B20%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="264" height="177"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="3"> </font><font color="#c0504d" size="4"><em>Male Snow Buntings waiting out a breezy snow squall.</em></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-h0aBu33Ux98/UbzgQp9vh_I/AAAAAAAAAmU/yF_0lBNQemQ/s1600-h/Brant-SNGO_1297%25255B24%25255D.jpg"><img title="Brant-SNGO_1297" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Brant-SNGO_1297" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--g-zbi_6xKw/UbzgSpBlhrI/AAAAAAAAAmc/KEqwiMXYRk0/Brant-SNGO_1297_thumb%25255B21%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="180"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="4">A group of Black Brant with a pair of Snow Geese feeding in a small patch of melted out tundra before breakup.</font></em></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3">When the weather finally turned warm at the end of May it stayed warm, not even freezing at night so the spring runoff was rapid and this led to our second worst flood in the past two decades. We live on a island in the Colville Delta and over 85% of the island was covered in water. Several of the waterfowl nesting areas were flooded with several feet of water and many of the early nesters lost their nests. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wTLFHh8nl84/UbzgTzauJyI/AAAAAAAAAmk/5VhswbdJQis/s1600-h/Brant-flgt_1572%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="brant" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="brant" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-znFl6Vcopb4/UbzgVmUawrI/AAAAAAAAAms/TPPIEgaYO5o/Brant-flgt_1572_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a><font size="3"></font></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="3"> </font><font color="#c0504d" size="4"><em>Brant flying over a white landscape.</em></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y56cfjBmt4k/UbzgX487K7I/AAAAAAAAAm0/fEJYLZuW6aQ/s1600-h/Flood-eidersRvr_5320%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Flood-eidersRvr_5320" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Flood-eidersRvr_5320" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-91Z5ePEE96k/UbzgZF0nz3I/AAAAAAAAAm8/aOb7w-rUnuU/Flood-eidersRvr_5320_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="167"></a><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="4">River starting to flood its banks with a small group of King eiders resting on a small pan of river ice.</font></em></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c2QELtFsoeI/UbzgdjeqhHI/AAAAAAAAAnE/GM3BssBc2NA/s1600-h/BrantFlooding_5351%25255B28%25255D.jpg"><img title="BrantFlooding_5351" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 2px 5px 2px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BrantFlooding_5351" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-n4PyE3grMRs/UbzgfpF8mPI/AAAAAAAAAnM/SGIcdEyqYlw/BrantFlooding_5351_thumb%25255B25%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="180"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="4"><em> Local breeding Brant flocking up on some of the last high ground during this years flood.</em></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VOIxRYVsHQs/UbzgiZ9VnQI/AAAAAAAAAnU/WevW8YYispo/s1600-h/FloodedRunway5June_5340%25255B24%25255D.jpg"><img title="June 5 Flood" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 2px 0px 2px 5px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="June 5 Flood" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9dTUKxKwGP4/UbzgjjzB4jI/AAAAAAAAAnc/XYzv9rQU7Xw/FloodedRunway5June_5340_thumb%25255B21%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="180"></a><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="4"><em>View showing water around some of the buildings and flooded runway in the center of the photo.</em></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x0K4PlQMxyw/UbzgmPqWIEI/AAAAAAAAAnk/JVs_ECm2qqU/s1600-h/FloodWaterEiders_5368%25255B32%25255D.jpg"><img title="King Eiders Flood waters" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 2px 5px 2px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="King Eiders Flood waters" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rNUsBeQDwGc/UbzgnqM_fxI/AAAAAAAAAns/vxgEaj_i7O0/FloodWaterEiders_5368_thumb%25255B29%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="180"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"> </font><font color="#c0504d" size="4"><em> A flock of King Eiders in the edge of the flooded lake by our house.</em></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3">Fortunately most were just starting and were able to continue once the water levels receded, although many of the clutch were smaller than in a normal year. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SBE7-rKA8Go/UbzgpqQJyvI/AAAAAAAAAn0/G-gz6qBPXiM/s1600-h/Brant-Nest-2986%25255B24%25255D.jpg"><img title="Black Brant and Nest" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 2px 5px 2px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Black Brant and Nest" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HIee8pjzXes/UbzgrDRPXxI/AAAAAAAAAn8/hvpXRtcgCkM/Brant-Nest-2986_thumb%25255B21%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="220"></a></p> <p> <em><font color="#c0504d" size="4"> A female Brant starting her second attempt to lay eggs this spring. She now has two eggs and is starting to add down from her breast to help insulate the eggs while incubating. She also covers the eggs with the down when she leaves the nest to go bath and feed for short periods several times a day. The down will keep the eggs warm for several hours.</font></em></p> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="4"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rJpFyia7-yQ/UbzgtCc2XeI/AAAAAAAAAoE/qj7KzSMqKw0/s1600-h/Home-Aug2010_3354%25255B61%25255D.jpg"><img title="Home-Aug2010_3354" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 2px 0px 2px 10px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Home-Aug2010_3354" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5XaVjUODcKU/UbzgvP78fkI/AAAAAAAAAoM/8hmXy_TKpZs/Home-Aug2010_3354_thumb%25255B58%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="302" height="205"></a></font></em></p> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="4"></font></em> </p></blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em><font color="#c0504d" size="4">I will end with a photo showing our island and lake when it is dry and green.</font></em></p></blockquote> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-74552904096429645852012-09-12T16:47:00.000-08:002012-09-13T18:28:20.060-08:00Colors of Fall<p><font size="3">With the lengthening of nights and cooler temperatures the yellows, gold, and reds of fall have replaced the Arctic tundra’s green of summer. This posting will be more of a photo essay to show the various fall plants and their colors.</font></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wVzMbg0GxMA/UFKV62vMscI/AAAAAAAAAj8/ANcX-NWq2Os/s1600-h/RedGrass-Lake_936013.jpg"><img style="margin: 2px; display: inline; float: left" title="RedGrass-Lake_9360" alt="RedGrass-Lake_9360" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7dEnR9vVJFg/UFKV86iKweI/AAAAAAAAAkE/__-1MATEIuI/RedGrass-Lake_9360_thumb10.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="162"></a> </p> <p>A small shallow water pond in the Colville Delta showing the red color the Pendent Grass “Arctophila fulva” acquires in the fall. Large areas of the Arctic Coastal Plain is colored by this shallow water-loving plant. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mkLRgxk8lXw/UFKV-6spjrI/AAAAAAAAAkM/Sc7f7aCv8uE/s1600-h/kiei-jul-grass11464.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 2px 2px; display: inline; float: left" title="kiei-jul-grass1146" alt="kiei-jul-grass1146" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-905vJSEBfq4/UFKWAspgA-I/AAAAAAAAAkU/j7IHhbpgzEU/kiei-jul-grass1146_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="162"></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Juvenile King Eiders almost ready to leave the north country for their wintering grounds, with red pendent grass in the foreground.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f6azUb76S5I/UFKWCUhq_CI/AAAAAAAAAkc/5iqHSxX17OA/s1600-h/Blueberry-0394.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 2px 2px; display: inline; float: left" title="" alt="" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-amF0FFz9XE8/UFKWEj44sJI/AAAAAAAAAkk/jB_ac2VJiz4/Blueberry-039_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="184"></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Alpine blueberry “Vaccinium uliginosun Subsp: alpina” A nice contrast of the blue of the berry with the deep red leaves. A rare treat this far north for us, as most years the season is too short for berries. The few we do get are usually used to make blue berry pancakes. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QHZXXXO4Eco/UFKWIdZutrI/AAAAAAAAAks/T8O1fUiMABM/s1600-h/Lingon-berries4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 2px 2px; display: inline; float: left" title="" alt="" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--0JN1iYhMyA/UFKWJ01mf-I/AAAAAAAAAk0/sR2FRgKI06c/Lingon-berries_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="182"></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Another berry we are able to enjoy at times is the Lingonberry “Vaccinium vitis-iduea “ Cooked up they make a great sauce for meats or bread.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TKP5L3xQmIM/UFKWN3LBoMI/AAAAAAAAAk8/MQtNwVJJny0/s1600-h/GoldenColtsfoot-14873.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zoTbtXL347w/UFKWP5zdVZI/AAAAAAAAAlE/Jj8Y5t6F2jU/GoldenColtsfoot-1487_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>I will end this post with the gold and yellow leaves of sweet coltsfoot “Petasites hyperboreus”, one of our earliest blooming flowers here in northern Alaska. </p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-20906677620502537232011-09-14T11:40:00.000-08:002011-09-15T15:09:59.006-08:00Living With Tundra Swans<p>About 5 PM I loaded my dog Ruby into the 6-wheeler and drove down to the big aircraft hanger to close one of the big sliding doors, which I had left open to allow the interior to dry up some. The northeast wind had been picking up all day and now that it was doing 18-20 knots, I didn't want the door to shake loose and get broken if the wind continued to build during the night.<br></p> <p>As I pulled up in front of the hanger, I realized that the Tundra Swan family had been feeding in the ditch that runs along the outside of the runway. They were starting to climb out onto the runway, and Ruby started barking. After quieting her, I quickly shut the hanger door, and then slowly turned the rig around so as not to frighten the birds and headed the half mile back to the house. The male was airborne when I started back but the female was still standing on the edge of the runway with the three cygnets. I figured she would either move the cygnets back into the river, which was only 50 meters from the edge of the runway, or lead them off to the pond system north of the buildings and runway. <br>Imagine my surprise when Ruby and I pulled up in front of the house and two big swans <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xrzDT2MHucY/TnKFmFJRiMI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/zxLJp6-VaoM/s1600-h/TUSW3_38013.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 10px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="TUSW3_3801" border="0" alt="TUSW3_3801" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZWdwYFwdYtI/TnKFm6abABI/AAAAAAAAAjU/Rjxtzsf10m8/TUSW3_3801_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a> passed low overhead. Both adults had followed us to the house and when we stopped at the house they circled several times in formation. They were just flying above the roof of the house and a couple times they rode the air currents around the end of the house, almost playfully. It reminded me of when the ravens would ride the current off the end of the house,diving and playing with each other. The swans were riding the currents and twice the female acted like she was going to grab the male's tail, like they do when chasing other swans out of their territory, often trying to pull them out of the air. I have seen a few individuals loose tail feathers if they weren't quick enough to dodge or pull away from the attacker. Once these swans seemed sure that we were not going any further, they flew off going up river away from where the cygnets had been left.<br></p> <p>I made a quick run back to the hanger to see where the cygnets had gone. They were making good time across the tundra away from the river and runway to the ponds about 1/2 mile away. I turned around and hurried back to the house and just as I was pulling up to the garage door one of the adult swans went by, headed back to the cygnets.<br>I have never had our local swans follow me before when I have encountered them while they were feeding along the runway or river. This pair has had its territory around our homestead for 4 years now so they are quite used to the activities around our place and their nest site is just over a half mile up river of the house.</p> <p>I have seen non-breeding swans in June follow a grizzly bear as it wandered past where they were feeding and as the bear swam the river channel the whole group of 30 swans followed, staying about 40 meters behind the bear. When the bear reached the other side and ambled down the sand spit the swans stopped in shallow water but continued to call until the bear was about 1/2 mile away,then the whole flock swam back to their feeding spot. I have also watched Sabine’s Gulls, Arctic Terns, and geese escort golden eagles out of the nesting area. They follow the eagle staying off to the side and slightly higher and all are calling and scolding the raptor till it gets far enough away from the nesting area that they feel safe enough to return to nesting duties. But this is the first time I have had swans escort me away from their young. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-epJk8OdHUA4/TnKFnpIntwI/AAAAAAAAAjY/BXvOAMwQ05s/s1600-h/tuswnest12303.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="tusw-nest1230" border="0" alt="tusw-nest1230" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MS2CuWw6D6k/TnKFoWomfmI/AAAAAAAAAjc/-hZFEdhAnTA/tuswnest1230_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="186"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Nest from the Tundra Swans that nested near our home this year.</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3fD12CgxA1k/TnKFo6J1p-I/AAAAAAAAAjg/yDTEQbJ0EZY/s1600-h/TUSW_Cyg1_90003.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="TUSW_Cyg1_9000" border="0" alt="TUSW_Cyg1_9000" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8GpUZKj_p8U/TnKFplEufbI/AAAAAAAAAjk/zoTdK-Jc334/TUSW_Cyg1_9000_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>Cygnets just out of the nest.</strong></em></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m-_elGnXL0c/TnKFqLuU34I/AAAAAAAAAjo/f4lVw7PRBG0/s1600-h/tuswfamily_03443.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="tusw-family_0344" border="0" alt="tusw-family_0344" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kq4AYzwEUlY/TnKFwF5zYwI/AAAAAAAAAjs/EIkXIv8FmK4/tuswfamily_0344_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Cygnets are growing up, but still have a ways to go before fledging and heading south for the winter.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OzShhTaKFqk/TnKFw9XGKxI/AAAAAAAAAjw/SOxnnUzbcYY/s1600-h/tusw-sleeping_0688%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="tusw-sleeping_0688" border="0" alt="tusw-sleeping_0688" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mT1LtLqbT_g/TnKFxSbyOWI/AAAAAAAAAj0/yCjRFDZuNh0/tusw-sleeping_0688_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Swan family sleeping edge of our lake not far from the house, view out kitchen window.</em></strong></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-47051163214360652762011-07-10T19:11:00.000-08:002011-07-11T16:06:38.571-08:00Arctic Renewal<p>We have drifted from spring into summer and a rapid renewal has been taking place. The tundra is now covered with many different flowers and the ground is getting a nice green tinge to it. With the warm days, the butterflies have been busy flitting from flower to flower getting nectar.</p> <p>Most of the birds have hatched so there are many young about, either in our yard or around the edge of the lake by the house. Several broods of both Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs are now around the feeder out the kitchen window. With the 24 hour daylight, they go through lots of seed, especially when we have a cold foggy day and the parents have a hard time finding bugs to feed the hungry little ones. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kj0smfi_8GA/ThuOr1W4C-I/AAAAAAAAAhw/FxpyJdq9Qmk/s1600-h/SNBU_Chick_86473.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="SNBU_Chick_8647" border="0" alt="SNBU_Chick_8647" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-osYTamnMXbo/ThuOsWPsKMI/AAAAAAAAAh0/p95OjXNZ3-s/SNBU_Chick_8647_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> </p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-V_GdKL22RfI/ThuOtNAUllI/AAAAAAAAAh4/uALAK8V-Zkw/s1600-h/WhiteAvens_9282%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WhiteAvens_9282" border="0" alt="WhiteAvens_9282" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JpK2b6w1E_E/ThuOtmp4seI/AAAAAAAAAh8/5W_Nhoo-jKI/WhiteAvens_9282_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240"></a> <strong><em>On the left a young Snow Bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis) with its short tail and a few tuffs of down on the head.</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em> On the right is a group of white avens (Dryas integrifolia ).</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>With access to the nest boxes we put up on the various buildings, the Snow Buntings are the first to hatch, followed closely by the larger geese. Since the Snow Geese only need 22 days to hatch, they are the first to start hatching, followed closely by Brant and White-fronted Geese. The last part of June sees a flurry of hatching activity as the shorebirds, ptarmigan, longspurs, and some of the early duck species hatch. The hatch continues into the first part of July with eiders, scaup, Long-tailed Duck, swans, loons, and late shorebirds finishing up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sNkTOuIBxfc/ThuOvY9saXI/AAAAAAAAAis/HlhwrylobjM/s1600-h/SNGO_Brood_84253.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sNkTOuIBxfc/ThuOvY9saXI/AAAAAAAAAiw/gHnEkKua8eY/s1600-h/SNGO_Brood_8425%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="SNGO_Brood_8425" border="0" alt="SNGO_Brood_8425" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HAB5ZImPtuI/ThuOw1A8AXI/AAAAAAAAAiI/CoQDtWNszWY/SNGO_Brood_8425_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2BUb67fjMTM/ThuOxXk5mDI/AAAAAAAAAiM/qknfKPUYkL8/s1600-h/BLBR_gos_8495%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="BLBR_gos_8495" border="0" alt="BLBR_gos_8495" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-75aiHSt0osg/ThuOy2Ak4xI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/XWImi79gLJA/BLBR_gos_8495_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) brood left, and a Black Brant brood (Branta bernicla) moving through the yard.</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-u2eTo5VB0og/ThuOzThbYfI/AAAAAAAAAiU/2ZyvnElgtdE/s1600-h/WFGO_Gos-sm-5_033%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WFGO_Gos-sm-5_033" border="0" alt="WFGO_Gos-sm-5_033" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lX4hMTQKoQg/ThuOz66NrDI/AAAAAAAAAiY/79zybfT09J8/WFGO_Gos-sm-5_033_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="168"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em> Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) hatching out.</em></strong></p> <p>Even as the hatch is taking place, there are signs that this is a place of a short growing season. The geese that didn’t nest or failed early on have moved out of the area, headed off to one or more of the summer moulting areas. This frees up the limited food in the brood rearing areas for the young that need lots of good forage to be ready to migrate south in less than two months. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UrkKgHMch7g/ThuO1rRM33I/AAAAAAAAAic/oyNPs2t3Zq8/s1600-h/WIPT_Family_8954%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WIPT_Family_8954" border="0" alt="WIPT_Family_8954" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-10cYmXCnq1k/ThuO1xwhl7I/AAAAAAAAAig/9pjs2ks0bmA/WIPT_Family_8954_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Willow Ptarmigan ( Lagopus lagopus) family feeding in the grass around the house.</em></strong></p> <p>The shorebirds are also starting to flock up and non-breeding and extra adults will be starting their migration south in the nest few days. Usually one parent stays with the chicks till they are flegged and then they are pretty much on their own. The Semipalmated Sandpiper is our most common shorebird that nests on our island and we usually have at least 10 nests near by our house. By late July the yard is full of Juvenile Semi’s of various sizes, and all the adults have already left on their southbound journey. Summer activities must progress quickly in the Arctic. Time is of the essence. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IbpmcZHmi0M/ThuO2RjX2UI/AAAAAAAAAik/iTOXg2X2cwo/s1600-h/CARB_calf1V_8760%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="CARB_calf1V_8760" border="0" alt="CARB_calf1V_8760" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eIeni9CWTt8/ThuO2_BVS2I/AAAAAAAAAio/e73NnaRXiI4/CARB_calf1V_8760_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p>I will end this entry today with a photo of a young Caribou taken next to our house last week.</p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-50865353824289525932011-05-31T12:19:00.000-08:002011-06-03T12:40:47.800-08:00Early Spring Catch-up<p>I have been trying to get back to posting, but seem to be to easily distracted with other projects. The long nights of winter have given way to spring and the time of long daylight hours. </p> <p>For most of the winter the only birds seen were Common Ravens as are able to find enough to eat even in the coldest time of year. The population in our area has increased from only one pair in the early 1980’s to over 45 individuals these days. most of the increase has been from all the added buildings and pipelines in the area that now give the ravens a place to nest. The flat tundra was never home to many ravens.</p> <p>We enjoyed having the muskox herd continue to winter not far from us and we could watch them from the house with the spotting scope. I also made a couple snow machine trips to film the winter herd. </p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TEiHpQXHATk/TelBx3TAxsI/AAAAAAAAAgg/sC8Q5M9CIww/s1600-h/WinterMuskox_6376%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WinterMuskox_6376" border="0" alt="WinterMuskox_6376" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Iwy-_NTNlDE/TelByhWa8EI/AAAAAAAAAgk/bYuOMmikp4A/WinterMuskox_6376_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a> </p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em>Winter Muskox in the glow of a low sun January </em></strong></p> <p>April brought our first new birds, our local nesting population of Snow Buntings started arriving. To us spring has arrived when you can step out the house and hear the lovely song of a Snow Bunting. The other April bird I saw was a male Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) on a short snow machine trip up river from the house. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q2aeS0S_x1w/TelBzOrs-CI/AAAAAAAAAgo/dg33fmqbSto/s1600-h/SNBU_FOY2011_7450%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="SNBU_FOY2011_7450" border="0" alt="SNBU_FOY2011_7450" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V1q7ELvv5GQ/TelBzqBB2cI/AAAAAAAAAgs/d1ySKKzyVRY/SNBU_FOY2011_7450_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XU0o6CVxx0A/TelB0YiupKI/AAAAAAAAAgw/OymqeLiu1qg/s1600-h/ROPT-male_7477%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="ROPT-male_7477" border="0" alt="ROPT-male_7477" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kmPzMh13AT4/TelB069-krI/AAAAAAAAAg0/HFRvosodrp0/ROPT-male_7477_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <strong><em>Male Snow Bunting</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p align="left"><strong><em> Rock Ptarmigan Male</em></strong></p> <p>April also saw the end of our Polar Lights viewing as the night were becoming to light and only extremely bright ones could be seen by the middle of the month. And of course the sun started to have some strong solar activity which we weren’t able to enjoy.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nG7UC7Jvkg8/TelB1jGifeI/AAAAAAAAAg4/K3PVkZxCaq0/s1600-h/Pulsating_Aurora_7401%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Pulsating_Aurora_7401" border="0" alt="Pulsating_Aurora_7401" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1CLJqHIRXNE/TelB2KYOqRI/AAAAAAAAAg8/Hi9lN1WidIU/Pulsating_Aurora_7401_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> <strong><em>Pulsating Polar Lights over our home.</em></strong></p> <p>Early May brought a couple highlights for me. First I found my first local Raven’s nest on one of oilfield bridges. The nest showed that the raven was using all the products around to line its nest from traditional to modern, caribou hair, moss, and fiberglass insulation. She had four greenish blue, speckled eggs.</p> <p align="justify"> <strong><em>Common Raven Nest & Eggs.</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IDeggRRrE-Q/TelB3CNFCzI/AAAAAAAAAhA/4CQuzYuY0h8/s1600-h/RavenNest-1097%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="RavenNest-1097" border="0" alt="RavenNest-1097" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mG8x4h6Mmi4/TelB3iNVzMI/AAAAAAAAAhE/V4KUCtntZz8/RavenNest-1097_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--W8d-YdAcBo/TelB4tga-bI/AAAAAAAAAhI/G39oL-wB8jE/s1600-h/CORA_Eggs1-1108%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="CORA_Eggs1-1108" border="0" alt="CORA_Eggs1-1108" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VSQPN7wBPWI/TelB5Zi4BEI/AAAAAAAAAhM/6SFE5VnMMVs/CORA_Eggs1-1108_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="186"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--W8d-YdAcBo/TelB4tga-bI/AAAAAAAAAhI/G39oL-wB8jE/s1600-h/CORA_Eggs1-1108%25255B6%25255D.jpg"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em> </em></strong> <strong><em> </em></strong></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong> </p> <p><strong><em> </em></strong></p> <p> The other event was getting to see a couple of very small muskox calves playing on a bright sunny day. Still plenty of snow and we were still having night temperatures dropping down to –20F. Little muskox are tough being born at this time when we are still having such cold temperatures and winter type blizzards. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jo2xuWxWpsQ/TelB580IrYI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/czjDIZI8LRE/s1600-h/MuskoxGroup-2calf-ID_7507%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="MuskoxGroup-2calf-ID_7507" border="0" alt="MuskoxGroup-2calf-ID_7507" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CeBkQZMGFAo/TelB6UGAeRI/AAAAAAAAAhU/JM_3nVez3h0/MuskoxGroup-2calf-ID_7507_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7Mq6wsHctBg/TelB7ImWWXI/AAAAAAAAAhY/O3Z_AOIIoWU/s1600-h/MuskoxHerd-smCalf2_7551%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="MuskoxHerd-smCalf2_7551" border="0" alt="MuskoxHerd-smCalf2_7551" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s2BlfHjAjdY/TelB7kWyETI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Kb71aSjwHZ4/MuskoxHerd-smCalf2_7551_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7Mq6wsHctBg/TelB7ImWWXI/AAAAAAAAAhY/O3Z_AOIIoWU/s1600-h/MuskoxHerd-smCalf2_7551%25255B3%25255D.jpg"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7Mq6wsHctBg/TelB7ImWWXI/AAAAAAAAAhY/O3Z_AOIIoWU/s1600-h/MuskoxHerd-smCalf2_7551%25255B3%25255D.jpg"></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em> Muskox Herd Early May- Small Calves Dashing About.</em></strong></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-49850336444648836642011-03-25T11:08:00.001-08:002011-03-25T11:08:25.366-08:00Super Moon in Mirage<p>After a mostly overcast February, March has presented us with lots of clear skies and the sun is up for over 12 hours (pasted the 12 hour mark on the 18th) now and generates a nice amount of heat during the day. This has also lead to many days with superior mirages, both at night and during the day light hours. </p> <p>Mirages and distortions are produced when the rays of a low sun or moon pass through atmospheric regions where there are strong temperature gradients. Temperature per se has no direct effect but a vertical temperature gradient is also a density gradient. <p>The strong inversion layers created some spectacular images of this months full moon, which also happened to be what is called a “Super Moon”, or a super “Perigee Moon”. Full moons very in size depending on where in the moons elliptical orbit around the earth it is. This months full moon coincided with the its orbit being within one hour of perigee, or the closest it comes to earth. Being this close to the actual perigee event only happens about every 18 years. When it is at perigee it is about 50,000 km closer to earth than when it is at apogee (farthest away) and is about 14% larger, and 30% brighter than the more normal full moons.</p> <p>The full moon occurred on March 19 this year and this posting is to share several photos of the moon a couple days around full, both in the day time and at night.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoESx6ZDI/AAAAAAAAAfw/8n4zB7iuraE/s1600-h/AlmostfullMoonMarch_69304.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Almost full Moon-March_6930" border="0" alt="Almost full Moon-March_6930" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoFIb5MII/AAAAAAAAAf0/UrA8U-8-vB0/AlmostfullMoonMarch_6930_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong><font size="2">Photo on left from March 17 at 7 PM AST.</font></strong></em></p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="2"><strong><em> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoFspXbKI/AAAAAAAAAf4/4LloQlXMm9U/s1600-h/SettingSuperMoonmirage_69474.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Setting SuperMoon-mirage_6947" border="0" alt="Setting SuperMoon-mirage_6947" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoGGYTLjI/AAAAAAAAAf8/igf--uY1yQ4/SettingSuperMoonmirage_6947_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="162"></a></em></strong></font></p> <p><font size="2"><strong><em></em></strong></font> </p> <p><font size="2"><strong><em>Photo on right shows moon setting on the 18th being affected by inversion layer, also a touch of green on the upper edge.</em></strong></font></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoGxY42AI/AAAAAAAAAgA/al5xZ8ND_4c/s1600-h/SuperMoonriseoilfieldOTPmorn19_69503.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="SuperMoonrise-oilfield-OTP-morn19_6950" border="0" alt="SuperMoonrise-oilfield-OTP-morn19_6950" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoHTAgtxI/AAAAAAAAAgE/11lcb29sNQs/SuperMoonriseoilfieldOTPmorn19_6950_.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Moon rise over the Kuparuk Oilfield at 7 PM on the 18th.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoHxZ-2-I/AAAAAAAAAgI/-netDgNlHXs/s1600-h/SuperMoonmiragesetting_69883.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="SuperMoon-mirage-setting_6988" border="0" alt="SuperMoon-mirage-setting_6988" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoIfvh0QI/AAAAAAAAAgM/cnaduRm1U0k/SuperMoonmiragesetting_6988_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> Moon setting morning of the 19th through thin layer of clouds. The bottom of the moon is starting to be affected by a inversion layer , thus the distorted effect.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoI1672YI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/yE0PLBSLg14/s1600-h/SupperMoonMirage_69983.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="SupperMoon-Mirage_6998" border="0" alt="SupperMoon-Mirage_6998" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoJpC2-rI/AAAAAAAAAgU/j4qpAEomfN0/SupperMoonMirage_6998_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p> This photo is one of my most dramatic in regards to the amount of distortion to a moon I have seen in all my years in the Arctic. </p> <p> This strong mirage effect is explained by atmospheric expert Les Cowley. "This is a very strong mirage produced by rays bent while crossing intense vertical temperature gradients between a layer of cold air beneath warmer air. The lunar disk details are vertically stretched, suggesting that the mirage is part of a fabled Fata Morgana. </p> <p>It is an extreme and complicated variant of a superior mirage and called a "Fata Morgana" after the fabled Morgana, enchantress half-sister of King Arthur. The mirages are perhaps views of her island palace. The Morgana needs a temperature inversion, warmer air above cooler, with temperature gradients in parts increasing strongly with height. Then, several rays from a relatively low lying object or even the ground are all curved towards the eye giving the impression that the object is smeared upwards. In reality the Morgana is more complicated with parts inverted and stepped. The temperature inversions making them are not simple and may also have waves that cause different mirage sections to vary in height. Although the Morgana might be seen anywhere it mostly occurs during very cold weather or in Arctic regions where heavy frigid air overlays the ground. <p> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:8744432e-9e52-41cd-b8da-db112d97b379" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="2af1b39b-1163-4378-a2ae-1fe7ec12f69e" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozeY8mUB_YY" target="_new"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TYzoKD30ruI/AAAAAAAAAgY/l1Vg7bvLlx0/videof333f36c23d9%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('2af1b39b-1163-4378-a2ae-1fe7ec12f69e'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/ozeY8mUB_YY&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/ozeY8mUB_YY&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p></p> <p>This video has a whole series of moon mirage pictures taken at the same time as the marshmallow shaped moon picture posted above.</p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-85973554355810432472010-09-29T13:24:00.000-08:002010-09-29T17:32:40.656-08:00Colville Lousewort's<p>We have four species of lousewort (Pedicularis) growing around our home here in the Colville Delta. With the different species we get a blooming period from early June through late August, and even a few stragglers into September if it is a warm summer. The habitat varies from dry polygon ridges to wet sedge meadows; all lousewort are edible though some have a tap root too small to be of much interest.</p> <p>The genus name, Pedicularis, means little louse. It was once thought that animals feeding on this plant would become infected with these pests. Wort comes from the old English word meaning flower, giving us lousewort.</p> <p>The Wooly Lousewort (P. Kanei subsp. Kanei) is the first to appear in the spring, often starting to grow in early June when much of the ground is still covered with snow. It isn’t uncommon to find the first ones of the season blooming in a small patch of tundra surrounded by snow, a bit of pink in a world of white. To protect itself from the freezing temperatures and cold winds it has developed a covering of dense wool, and before it starts to bloom, it looks so different it could be mistaken for a different plant. This plant also has the largest tap root of the four and it is good to eat cooked or raw, a good source of starch, and the taste is similar to that of a sweet potato. It grows 15-20cm/6-8 inches tall from a thick yellow taproot with rose colored corolla.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPofDr2KtI/AAAAAAAAAeE/Tjk14yDiNIk/s1600-h/WoollyLouswort2_2383%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="WoollyLouswort2_2383" border="0" alt="WoollyLouswort2_2383" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPogEvqLjI/AAAAAAAAAeI/tSz-UjgKYYA/WoollyLouswort2_2383_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a> </p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPog1Vke9I/AAAAAAAAAeM/tHqiBVtOjRM/s1600-h/Lousewort-Woolly-V_2354%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Lousewort-Woolly-V_2354" border="0" alt="Lousewort-Woolly-V_2354" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPohdfxFxI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/0LQ2-Hl2J5Q/Lousewort-Woolly-V_2354_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPoiSRa0GI/AAAAAAAAAeU/y35ZHHRdpz8/s1600-h/WollyLousewort_1495%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="WollyLousewort_1495" border="0" alt="WollyLousewort_1495" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPoi_afOCI/AAAAAAAAAeY/muSGmV8vYKo/WollyLousewort_1495_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPoiSRa0GI/AAAAAAAAAeU/y35ZHHRdpz8/s1600-h/WollyLousewort_1495%5B3%5D.jpg"></a> </p> <p> <strong><em>Three views of the Woolly in different stages from early inflorescence white and woolly and as a mature flower.</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>The next two louseworts to bloom are the Capitate (P. capitata) and the Purple lousewort (P. sudetica). The Capitate Lousewort is yellow and prefers dryer ground and can grow in large patches covering several meters in diameter. The stem is single, growing from a thin rhizome, and the unbranched stem can have up to four flower heads, although one or two are more common. The corolla is yellowish or at times the upper lip can become rose-colored with age. Average height is around 15cm/6 inches.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPojoJ2HWI/AAAAAAAAAec/zgchL9SbG5Y/s1600-h/Lousewort-Capitate_7112%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Lousewort-Capitate_7112" border="0" alt="Lousewort-Capitate_7112" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPokYIZGbI/AAAAAAAAAeg/1Oq8VMfZz_E/Lousewort-Capitate_7112_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPok8eP07I/AAAAAAAAAek/q7_tpUQNREQ/s1600-h/Lousewort-Capitate-V_7117%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Lousewort-Capitate-V_7117" border="0" alt="Lousewort-Capitate-V_7117" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPolestpPI/AAAAAAAAAeo/ABPKPlx-KRQ/Lousewort-Capitate-V_7117_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPojoJ2HWI/AAAAAAAAAec/zgchL9SbG5Y/s1600-h/Lousewort-Capitate_7112%5B3%5D.jpg"></a> </p> <p> <strong><em>The photo on the left shows the rose coloring that the older flowers can acquire, while on the right is one that is all yellow.</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The Purple Lousewort (P. sudetica subsp. albolabiata) likes moist to wet tundra and grows either as a single flowering stem, or in clumps of ten or more flowering stalks from stout rootstock. These two plants tend to have a long growing season and overlap the start of the flowering of the fourth species that grows here. The petals are multicolored, having a pink corolla with a purple apex that has a white lip. This species is also referred to as the Sudeten Lousewort.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPomCKQzKI/AAAAAAAAAes/SdLPvJ0XvcA/s1600-h/Lousewort-Purple_2812%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Lousewort-Purple_2812" border="0" alt="Lousewort-Purple_2812" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPomlu_W1I/AAAAAAAAAew/MM6b1G06sdw/Lousewort-Purple_2812_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPonZQH4wI/AAAAAAAAAe0/2i7jCfNp-L0/s1600-h/Lousewort-Purple-V_2817%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Lousewort-Purple-V_2817" border="0" alt="Lousewort-Purple-V_2817" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPooGuI6TI/AAAAAAAAAe4/O7A3WgJVDr4/Lousewort-Purple-V_2817_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPonZQH4wI/AAAAAAAAAe0/2i7jCfNp-L0/s1600-h/Lousewort-Purple-V_2817%5B6%5D.jpg"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPonZQH4wI/AAAAAAAAAe8/_4f-gYu9tuM/s1600-h/Lousewort-Purple-V_2817%5B3%5D.jpg"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>A nice Purple Lousewort cluster and a close up of the flowering head. </em></strong></p> <p>The Whorled Lousewort (P. verticillata) has the most delicate blossoms of the four and you can have a single flowering stalk or many growing in a tight group from a branching taproot. They like moist meadows and river banks and grow up to 7 inches or 18cm. Petals are purple with a pink base.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPopZjRZxI/AAAAAAAAAfA/eCrzUvg5e2k/s1600-h/Lousewort-Whorled-V_5396%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Lousewort-Whorled-V_5396" border="0" alt="Lousewort-Whorled-V_5396" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPoqF5cl3I/AAAAAAAAAfE/QxB28roaC80/Lousewort-Whorled-V_5396_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPoq75JpCI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/UEuertBQgu8/s1600-h/Lousewort-Whorled_5377%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Lousewort-Whorled_5377" border="0" alt="Lousewort-Whorled_5377" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPosD6m1sI/AAAAAAAAAfU/9QoAxegV6d0/Lousewort-Whorled_5377_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>A nice group of Whorled Louseworts on the left with a close up of the flower on the right.</em></strong></p> <p>All of our louseworts have eatable tap roots, but other than the Woolly, most are too small to make it worthwhile to collect. Speaking of collecting, some species of voles collect lousewort tap roots and store them in small caches for the winter. The vole caches I have found are usually about a cup in quantity. Since these are such a good food source, the grizzly bear love to search out these vole treasures and feast on them. I watched one bear work several willow thickets in the river bed, and after a couple hours had consumed a large quantity of stored roots. I’m sure the voles weren’t too happy about this, but at least they didn’t get eaten on this day. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPosx9vFjI/AAAAAAAAAfY/5pm4ntxXMBk/s1600-h/LaplandRosebay-0439%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="LaplandRosebay-0439" border="0" alt="LaplandRosebay-0439" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TKPotmWSogI/AAAAAAAAAfc/K5atxueMKLk/LaplandRosebay-0439_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <strong><em>One last photo showing a yellow Capitate Lousewort blooming next to a Lapland Rosebay (Rhododendron lapponicum).</em></strong></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-80179243224998738322010-09-22T14:46:00.000-08:002010-09-26T16:38:12.333-08:00Fresh Snow<p>The seasons are changing again, a light snow is falling and covering the rust and red colors of the fall tundra. The soft flakes are of a mixed size, but it isn’t coming down hard enough to completely cover the ground yet. As I look out the kitchen window in the early dusk of the coming morning , I am treated to the sight of the cow and calf muskox sleeping in our <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nUg7n9EI/AAAAAAAAAdM/RPjKXDRkXxc/s1600-h/Muskox-Snow_5333%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Muskox-Snow_5333" border="0" alt="Muskox-Snow_5333" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nVAhPGkI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/G2EtUqL65Es/Muskox-Snow_5333_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="220" height="153"></a>yard and partly covered in the falling snow. They are not in a hurry to get up and start feeding, as both have gotten up, walked in a circle and then laid back down. At times they were stretched out full length sleeping , while the more normal position has them resting with their head up, as to keep a watch on things in between naps. </p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nV8KMbOI/AAAAAAAAAdU/z0O6qNJbeYM/s1600-h/Ready-to-Travel_5352%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Ready-to-Travel_5352" border="0" alt="Ready-to-Travel_5352" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nWVWgnSI/AAAAAAAAAdY/EvYncdO9Q34/Ready-to-Travel_5352_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p>It is hard to grasp that this gentle snow fall with its big flakes is not a common sight for us during the winter. Most of the time the snowflakes are well rounded and small by the time they reach the ground in our windy climate. I’m sure that during some stretches of winter we see the same snow several times, as the wind whips it back and forth and the drifts of winter deepen.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nXXzrC1I/AAAAAAAAAdc/2ZdKuqBOl9o/s1600-h/Pendent_Grass-sn_7308%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Pendent_Grass-sn_7308" border="0" alt="Pendent_Grass-sn_7308" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nX54guxI/AAAAAAAAAdg/DtZbc88mu4U/Pendent_Grass-sn_7308_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="148" height="214"></a>The lake has ice around the edges this morning and the red pendent grass (Arctophila fulva) is either weighted down with the fresh snow or frozen in the fresh ice, which doesn’t extend much past the grassy area.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nYg6L2SI/AAAAAAAAAdk/i8qTF-WUXGg/s1600-h/SnowyPendentGrass_7310%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="SnowyPendentGrass_7310" border="0" alt="SnowyPendentGrass_7310" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nZcQggDI/AAAAAAAAAdo/-mkkA3B0qRc/SnowyPendentGrass_7310_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nYg6L2SI/AAAAAAAAAdk/i8qTF-WUXGg/s1600-h/SnowyPendentGrass_7310%5B3%5D.jpg"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The Willow Ptarmigan are glad to see a bit of snow as they are starting to stick out in the rusty colored tundra since they are almost all white now. It makes them very nervous and take flight at the first sign of a falcon or snowy owl. They like to swoop in and hide in and around the buildings where it is harder for a bird of prey to make a diving run to catch one. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nZ3qdRhI/AAAAAAAAAds/FbC7UpGQxwo/s1600-h/WIPT-flock_flight_5403%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="WIPT-flock_flight_5403" border="0" alt="WIPT-flock_flight_5403" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nabxE-2I/AAAAAAAAAdw/cJ-DdaNBtaA/WIPT-flock_flight_5403_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="441" height="203"></a> <strong><em>Large flock of Willow Ptarmigan taking flight.</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nbOr4j4I/AAAAAAAAAd0/2_wHq79sicM/s1600-h/LateSept-WIPT_5408%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="LateSept-WIPT_5408" border="0" alt="LateSept-WIPT_5408" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_nbomyFnI/AAAAAAAAAd4/g-imOA2zLhY/LateSept-WIPT_5408_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> </p> <p>One afternoon several years ago I watched as a snowy owl and a flock of 30 willow ptarmigan played keep away. The owl had the birds cornered at the base of an old wire bird cage that was 10’ square and 8’ high that I wasn’t using anymore. The owl was perched up on top and when it moved from one side to the other the ptarmigan would quickly run to the other side staying right up against the pen. This maneuver didn’t give the owl enough room to swoop down and grab one of the ptarmigan. This went on for about 45 minutes before the snowy owl decided it would have better luck some place else.</p> <p>With the days of fall getting shorter, we now can enjoy the Aurora Borealis again as well as watch the constellations swirl overhead. It looks like it will be a good winter for sky watching the as the sun has been putting out lots of solar activity that translates into good viewing conditions.</p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_ncBTcmkI/AAAAAAAAAd8/d4dxTKKkkJo/s1600-h/Aurora%20Reflections_5139%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Aurora Reflections_5139" border="0" alt="Aurora Reflections_5139" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TJ_ncv1NdYI/AAAAAAAAAeA/wK9fIXAAA9A/Aurora%20Reflections_5139_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="165"></a> <strong><em>Aurora Borealis reflecting in the lake.</em></strong></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-42767433668043725652010-07-10T20:07:00.000-08:002010-07-10T20:13:56.596-08:00Sweet Smell of Summer<p>Several species of flowers are now in bloom and the tundra vegetation is greening up nicely. One of my favorite flowers is the Rock Jasmine – Androsace chamaejasme, which has a very fragrant smell. It grows in large patches in sandy areas here in the Colville River Delta and the breezes carry the lovely fragrance about the area.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TDlE7l7Yp_I/AAAAAAAAAcE/DaW8Wvx9d8U/s1600-h/R_Jasmine4_2391%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="R_Jasmine4_2391" border="0" alt="R_Jasmine4_2391" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TDlE8QfzeKI/AAAAAAAAAcI/BQXom7gWxGo/R_Jasmine4_2391_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a></p> <p><em></em> </p> <p><em>Rock Jasmine</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>So far the spring and early summer has been on the cool side, and the warm spell of the past two days really brought out the mosquitoes. This was the worst I have seen them around on our island. Even with a stiff breeze they were everywhere and one was glad to have a good headnet or bug spray in order to enjoy being outside.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TDlE833maQI/AAAAAAAAAcM/mpvXGW-hvd4/s1600-h/Buggy-Day2_8227%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Buggy-Day2_8227" border="0" alt="Buggy-Day2_8227" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TDlE94zz3NI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/eGZQXkkOQj8/Buggy-Day2_8227_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p><em></em> </p> <p><em></em> </p> <p><em>Mosquitoes attracted to a fresh set of caribou antlers that are still in the velvet.</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Some of the other early flowers that we have out now are Purple Saxifrage - Saxifraga oppositifolis subsp. oppositifolia, Wooly Lousewort -Pedicularis kanei subsp. kanei , Parry’s Wallflower - Parrya nudicaulis, Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot - Petasites frigidus, White Avens - Dryas integrifolia subsp. integrifolia, Marsh Marigold - Caltha palustris subsp. arctica, Snow Buttercup - Ranunculus nivalis, Mastodon Flower – Senecio congestus, and Northern Primrose - Primula borealis.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:55da53a5-eaac-4b1e-a861-f4244d3edd7f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a style="border:0px" href="http://cid-172e73b1b86259b7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=172E73B1B86259B7!105&type=5"><img style="border:0px" alt="View Arctic flowers" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TDlE-XS-LEI/AAAAAAAAAcU/ZrukCUbwxIA/InlineRepresentation076e6ffb-86ac-4806-a5ab-9e1c5d270d4d%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style="width:452px;text-align:right;" ><a href="http://cid-172e73b1b86259b7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=172E73B1B86259B7!105&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><u><font color="#ff8000">UPDATE:</font></u> The Muskox family has continued to stay in the local area, feeding either on our island or the one just to the west of us. Even when they are at the far end of the island, we still have a good view of the cow and calf in the spotting scope. At times they have fed down to the north end and close to the house. One foggy morning they even fed around the lake and right past the house. It has been fun watching the calf, who has grown quite a bit since we first saw them in early May. The cow is shedding her soft wool-like underhair, also called qiviut, so she is now looking quite shaggy compared to her earlier pictures. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TDlE-9y4p_I/AAAAAAAAAcY/EE8S4T0G-tY/s1600-h/Muskox-July-bugs_2128%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Muskox-July-bugs_2128" border="0" alt="Muskox-July-bugs_2128" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TDlE_ZAUiHI/AAAAAAAAAcc/fSrb7J4eACU/Muskox-July-bugs_2128_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> <em>Cow muskox shedding her soft undercoat and looking quite shaggy. Also you can see lots of mosquitoes buzzing around her. With her long hair she seemed to be only bothered around her ears and face</em>.</p> <p> </p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TDlFAI17gAI/AAAAAAAAAcg/git-iLdmH6c/s1600-h/MuskoxFamily-July_2123%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="MuskoxFamily-July_2123" border="0" alt="MuskoxFamily-July_2123" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TDlFAjXOhiI/AAAAAAAAAck/b7j746le1AI/MuskoxFamily-July_2123_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="166"></a> </p> <p><em>Cow and calf muskox feeding on sedges and short Arctic willow.</em></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-49830059779235181352010-06-15T14:05:00.000-08:002010-06-15T17:03:28.991-08:00Nesting Season Underway<p>Breakup turned out to be on the mild side this year and we enjoyed one of the few non-flooding ones we have had in the last 15 years.  Once we had our initial flooding, we still had 12 days to go before reaching the final breakup and all of the ice disappeared from the river channels.  The weather remained overcast and cool right up to the day before ice went out.  Then with a week of clear skies, warm nights, and temperatures up to +56F, our snow pack receded rapidly and by the end of the week the only snow left was from the deep drifts around all the buildings.</p> <p>As the tundra rapidly emerged from under the snow, the geese started building nests and laying eggs.  The late spring seems to have depleted some of the Greater White-fronted Geese’s body reserves for egg laying, and the clutches have been much smaller than normal.  Last year the average clutch was 6, and I even found clutch counts as high as 10.  This spring most White-front nests are running between 2-3 eggs, which is quite a drop in production.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgiupuks8I/AAAAAAAAAbE/L2NXhsfvRRw/s1600-h/GWFG_Nest1-0348%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="GWFG_Nest1-0348" border="0" alt="GWFG_Nest1-0348" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgivVQk9nI/AAAAAAAAAbI/gz8QeCouOSs/GWFG_Nest1-0348_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="189" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgiv-MA_sI/AAAAAAAAAbM/U63ovlZ6I80/s1600-h/WFGO1v_0943%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="WFGO1v_0943" border="0" alt="WFGO1v_0943" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgiwYXW5yI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/IoU2cK2pvUw/WFGO1v_0943_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="248" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>T</p> <p><strong><em>Above is a photo of a White-fronted Goose nest, and to the right is a gander trying to draw attention away from setting female.</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The Snow Goose is the other  large goose that nests in our local area, and while they arrived about two weeks behind the White-fronts, their clutch size seems to be down by about 30%.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgixM2oSxI/AAAAAAAAAbU/00Ma7INCbt4/s1600-h/SNGO1_0994%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="SNGO1_0994" border="0" alt="SNGO1_0994" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgixrtaKTI/AAAAAAAAAbY/TVs5PQt4wHs/SNGO1_0994_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgiyeSom_I/AAAAAAAAAbc/Uhyu5iPegso/s1600-h/SNGO_Nest1-0350%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="SNGO_Nest1-0350" border="0" alt="SNGO_Nest1-0350" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgiy7OWE7I/AAAAAAAAAbg/5I4vepxzBro/SNGO_Nest1-0350_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="189" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Above shot shows a pair of Snows and the male is a blue morph.  Photo to the right shows a Snow Goose nest with the white down used to cover the eggs when female is off the nest.</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>The Brant arrived much later than the White-fronts and their egg production is normal, with an average of 4 eggs per nest.  Out of several hundred Brant nests, the highest count so far has been 5, and a very few 2 egg counts have been found.   At this time it looks like it is going to be a very good year for the Brant colony.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgiz3O37aI/AAAAAAAAAbk/BREXjfV0l7Q/s1600-h/Brant-Nest-antler-0320%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Brant-Nest-antler-0320" border="0" alt="Brant-Nest-antler-0320" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgi0YdMlII/AAAAAAAAAbo/9F-YA8lp-LA/Brant-Nest-antler-0320_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="189" /></a> </p> <p><strong><em>A Brant nest showing the dark speckled down and how much more down the Brant have in their nests, compared to other geese. Nest on mound with old Caribou skull.</em></strong></p> <p>Other waterfowl that will be nesting near by are Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Northern Pintail, the lovely King Eider and perhaps this year for the first time since 2003 we might have a Spectacled Eider nesting near our lake. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgi0wERrrI/AAAAAAAAAbs/8FYbEtFdUwo/s1600-h/KIEI_males-face_1928%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="KIEI_males-face_1928" border="0" alt="KIEI_males-face_1928" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgi1UAZBiI/AAAAAAAAAbw/qTxfuuijWj0/KIEI_males-face_1928_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="176" /></a>         <strong><em>Two male King Eiders tussling over females.</em></strong></p> <p>With nest boxes available, the Snow Buntings were the first to start nesting and some of the  eggs should be hatching shortly. Both the Savannah Sparrow and Lapland Longspur are also nesting, but I have only found Longspur nests so far this spring.</p> <p>The Semipalmated Sandpipers were the first shorebirds to start nesting and it looks like it will be another good year for them, as I have already found several nests in a small area around our Lodge.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgi2ZNAmLI/AAAAAAAAAb0/S8GZwBfgucg/s1600-h/SESA-cover1-0323%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="SESA-cover1-0323" border="0" alt="SESA-cover1-0323" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgi211XDQI/AAAAAAAAAb4/_yC4_5hURhw/SESA-cover1-0323_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="189" /></a>          <strong><em>A well hidden Semipalmated Sandpiper Nest.</em></strong></p> <p>Some of the other shorebirds near-by the lodge that are “on territory” and will be nesting shortly, if not already started, are Pectoral, Dunlin, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, and Black-bellied Plover.  I have seen Long-billed Dowitchers, and Stilts close by also, so perhaps we will get a nest from one of them.  All the Ruddy Turnstones seem to have moved off to other islands to nest, with just the odd one or two that are still coming into the feeder for a quick bite.  </p> <p>Today I watched a female Hoary Redpoll pulling long dog hair from one of the willow bushes by the house, so she is working to line her nest, thus should be laying in the next day or two.  She is probably the only Hoary to line her nest with silky Pyrenees dog hair!</p> <p>Remember, we now have 24-hour daylight…the land of the mid-night sun. This is a time of year filled with bird songs and there is never a time when birds cannot be heard, photographed, or just observed.   Shortly the yard and surrounding area will be full of young Snow Buntings begging to be fed. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgi3W7XoDI/AAAAAAAAAb8/mSY3Pjnsnv0/s1600-h/Willow-Blooming1-0337%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Willow-Blooming1-0337" border="0" alt="Willow-Blooming1-0337" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TBgi33nN_kI/AAAAAAAAAcA/nlM1jvVRYc0/Willow-Blooming1-0337_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="248" /></a> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>Willow Catkin, the first flowering plant by the house this year.</strong></em></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-59817275086076882152010-05-28T09:39:00.000-08:002010-05-29T11:55:21.857-08:00A new Season Starting<p>Winter is finally loosening its grip, and with the warm weather in the Brooks Range, the Colville River next to our home has started the first stages of breakup.  The start of breakup for us is the flooding of the shallow parts of the river where the ice has frozen down to the river bottom during the winter. This “overflow” occurs as the water pressure from up-river continues to increase and the channel ice over the deeper parts of the river lifts up.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxDHb5P2I/AAAAAAAAAaM/lhpmLJvJeiQ/s1600-h/Breakup2010-1sm-0260%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Breakup2010-1sm-0260" border="0" alt="Breakup2010-1sm-0260" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxDxUM73I/AAAAAAAAAaQ/1nOSmdysf8A/Breakup2010-1sm-0260_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="253" height="194" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>The ice needs to lift up between two and half and three feet before it will crack and let the water flow out over the frozen-down areas. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Start of breakup-first water</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxEdPZgxI/AAAAAAAAAaU/rV25IcRczy8/s1600-h/Breakup-2010_2sm-0264%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Breakup-2010_2sm-0264" border="0" alt="Breakup-2010_2sm-0264" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxFExQqBI/AAAAAAAAAaY/PKf1-h8BYRc/Breakup-2010_2sm-0264_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="252" height="193" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>                 Clear brackish water boiling out of a blowhole.</em></strong></p> <p>Some of the shore leads created at this time can be over a half mile wide. Since the Colville has very little flow in the winter, the delta fills with brackish water from the Arctic Ocean during the winter months and the first water to flow up on the ice is clear greenish-blue color.  It usually take from 1-2 days to flush the brackish water out of the delta after which the water becomes a dirty brown.  Then it usually takes another week for the ice to weaken enough to break up and move out into the ocean.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxF8tFMyI/AAAAAAAAAac/ps4PrB3LOmU/s1600-h/ColvilleVillageMay25-2005%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="ColvilleVillageMay25-2005" border="0" alt="ColvilleVillageMay25-2005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxGY73pzI/AAAAAAAAAag/66JtY_KZO04/ColvilleVillageMay25-2005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="222" /></a></p> <p><strong><em>Dark waters are shore leads, white channel ice over the deep water.</em></strong></p> <p>During the last wind storm, just before the river flooded, we had a special treat when a female Muskox and her calf showed up and spent four days in our local area. During the first two days they were here, it was storming so hard it was difficult to see them in the blowing snow. When they were lying down they were quickly covered with snow and blended in even more.   When the storm broke, the cow and calf continued making their way to the west and were on an island west of us when the river flooded.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxG8z8ryI/AAAAAAAAAak/JKXs4CPdQ7g/s1600-h/Muskox-Digi-3aSm-0250%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Muskox-Digi-3aSm-0250" border="0" alt="Muskox-Digi-3aSm-0250" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxHkd8DtI/AAAAAAAAAao/qBSwu06XPhA/Muskox-Digi-3aSm-0250_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="252" height="174" /></a> </p> <p> <strong><em>Upper  photo shows female Muskox with snow packed in her pelt. Bottom photo was taken two days later, still whiteout but the wind has died down and they are enjoying a warmer day.</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxIIEWaVI/AAAAAAAAAas/8JPjuuBu9bY/s1600-h/Muskox%26Calf-24May10_0407%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Muskox&Calf-24May10_0407" border="0" alt="Muskox&Calf-24May10_0407" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxIvgHu1I/AAAAAAAAAaw/CEOVP4doGGg/Muskox%26Calf-24May10_0407_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="252" height="174" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxIIEWaVI/AAAAAAAAAas/8JPjuuBu9bY/s1600-h/Muskox%26Calf-24May10_0407%5B4%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>With our cold spring and heavy snow cover, the waterfowl were happy to see the river flood, and many White-fronted Geese and Brant were seen out bathing in flood water.  Even with a few days of warm weather and melting during the day, the ground is nearly 95% snow covered, with only the higher polygon ridges and grass tussocks melted out.</p> <p>The number of birds around our feeders at one time has started to decline, as birds pair up and move out onto their nesting territories.  Our Lapland Longspur numbers peaked at around 150 during some of the worst parts of last week’s snow storm, and now we might see 15-20 at one time, with many birds shifting in and out of the feeders.</p> <p>The Brant are our most numerous species now, with over 600 within sight of the house, either feeding along the river- banks or staking out nest sites in the nesting colonies.  With this many Brant here already we should have an early hatch this year.   </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxJBHoSxI/AAAAAAAAAa0/DjSNbGgx-Fc/s1600-h/Brant1_4015%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Brant1_4015" border="0" alt="Brant1_4015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxJeO7ljI/AAAAAAAAAa4/N-lJUDfMfDg/Brant1_4015_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="168" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/TAFxEdPZgxI/AAAAAAAAAa8/XzBn19S47ps/s1600-h/Breakup-2010_2sm-0264%5B2%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>                          <strong><em>A pair of Brant </em></strong></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-44016201163847473382010-05-19T12:57:00.000-08:002010-05-19T19:50:08.581-08:00Windy May<p>May came in on a strong wind and it has continued on the windy side with 12 of the first 19 days having winds of 20 knots or more.  Besides being windy, most days have been overcast with blowing snow, creating many whiteout days.</p> <p>Today we are into "day four" of the latest wind storm, with visibility less than a mile in blowing snow and mist.  The temperature over the past 24 hours has been pretty steady with a low of +26F and a high of +28F.  With all the drifting snow and temperatures below freezing the tundra is still 100% snow covered and almost no grass above snow level.  </p> <p>Despite the storms, birds have been working their way north.  The southern part of Alaska has been having very warm temperatures and it looks like this has prompted some birds to continue north sooner than they should have.  The worst species to be hit hard (that we know about at this time) are some of the eiders.  We started finding King and Common Eiders weak and dying as early as the12th of May, and most have been females.  Perhaps these are birds that were migrating on east to northern Canada, but ran out of body reserves and perished in our area.  We wouldn’t expect King Eiders that are going to nest in the Colville Delta to arrive before the last couple days of this month or first few days of June.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxUiWabRI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/l5x_vraYRuE/s1600-h/Roosting-WillowPtarmigan_0112%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Roosting-WillowPtarmigan_0112" border="0" alt="Roosting-WillowPtarmigan_0112" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxVKKSsdI/AAAAAAAAAZU/DKNDOiRZZ0w/Roosting-WillowPtarmigan_0112_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Roosting Willow Ptarmigan-Male just starting to get summer feathers on its neck and head.</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Here on the homestead our first migratory birds (Snow Buntings) returned on the 17th of April as I reported in “They’re Back” in April’s blog.  Earlier this month some of our Willow Ptarmigan showed up around the house, even roosting outside our bedroom window for a couple nights.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxVmt5MPI/AAAAAAAAAZY/VYgO7tQJad0/s1600-h/May19-owl_0157%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="May19-owl_0157" border="0" alt="May19-owl_0157" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxWMflTCI/AAAAAAAAAZc/tSsEAVXRE7M/May19-owl_0157_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a>  <strong><em>Short-eared Owl that passed through the yard in the early morning hours.</em></strong></p> <p>Today even with this wind we have had six new species arrive: a Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, Short-eared Owl and a Sanderling.  Only the owl and Sanderling kept going, the others were happy to find food and shelter out of the storm, joining our Snow Buntings and Ruddy Turnstones at the feeders. The Savannah Sparrow and some of the female Longspurs seem quite weak and after eating from the feeders, took quick naps before going back to refuel on more seed.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxW4ppRiI/AAAAAAAAAZg/lorJehgq2Rg/s1600-h/May19savs-2_0175%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="May19savs-2_0175" border="0" alt="May19savs-2_0175" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxXQg3PjI/AAAAAAAAAZk/gg5Xb5rBbz8/May19savs-2_0175_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <strong><em>Resting Savannah Sparrow</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxYn6vAxI/AAAAAAAAAZo/-nJk-3HQcIY/s1600-h/May19savs-3_0167%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="May19savs-3_0167" border="0" alt="May19savs-3_0167" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxZCYeaZI/AAAAAAAAAZs/s5wRjZ4jHEI/May19savs-3_0167_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="273" height="188" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxYn6vAxI/AAAAAAAAAZo/-nJk-3HQcIY/s1600-h/May19savs-3_0167%5B9%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxYn6vAxI/AAAAAAAAAZo/-nJk-3HQcIY/s1600-h/May19savs-3_0167%5B9%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxYn6vAxI/AAAAAAAAAZw/yXQCf-Vhvdc/s1600-h/May19savs-3_0167%5B8%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Sparrow preening after eating, getting ice off its     feathers.</em></strong></p> <p>For most of these species, this is an early arrival date, some by over a week.  Also, we would expect to have only male longspurs, in the beginning, with the females trailing 4-5 days behind them. Today we have 6 females and only one male at the feeder. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxaDzV75I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/eyZC8TVhFdc/s1600-h/May19-lalo-m_0187%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="May19-lalo-m_0187" border="0" alt="May19-lalo-m_0187" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_Sxa_tnQhI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/u1H33uEZjoU/May19-lalo-m_0187_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <strong><em>Male Longspur</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxbfYecfI/AAAAAAAAAaA/iQDgxeElNpI/s1600-h/May19lalo-f_0189%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="May19lalo-f_0189" border="0" alt="May19lalo-f_0189" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_Sxb3rbz9I/AAAAAAAAAaE/Bro-PAXSpTs/May19lalo-f_0189_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="182" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxbfYecfI/AAAAAAAAAaA/iQDgxeElNpI/s1600-h/May19lalo-f_0189%5B6%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxbfYecfI/AAAAAAAAAaA/iQDgxeElNpI/s1600-h/May19lalo-f_0189%5B6%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxbfYecfI/AAAAAAAAAaA/iQDgxeElNpI/s1600-h/May19lalo-f_0189%5B6%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S_SxbfYecfI/AAAAAAAAAaA/iQDgxeElNpI/s1600-h/May19lalo-f_0189%5B6%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>           <strong><em>Female Longspur – good view of long hind claws</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>As hungry as these birds have been, it makes me wonder about all the ones that didn't find our place with shelter and food and how many will perish from this late spring storm. Combine this with the many birds coming north too soon, and it is a sad picture of many lost birds.</p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-48358531196161832392010-04-18T09:32:00.002-08:002010-04-20T06:44:27.565-08:00They're Back!Here in the Arctic we like to think of the return of the Snow Buntings as the first sign of the awakening of spring. While it will still be weeks before any flowers are in bloom, the little bird’s melody drifting on the wind lifts ones spirits with this sure sign of the coming season.<br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Sans;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8z90P_O1fI/AAAAAAAAAYw/aqfRQTTOG2U/s1600-h/SNBU-17Apr_7464%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="SNBU-17Apr_7464" border="0" height="171" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8z90jcNaII/AAAAAAAAAY0/bqOLF4joOcQ/SNBU-17Apr_7464_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="SNBU-17Apr_7464" width="248" /></a></span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Lucida Sans;"><b><i>Male Snow Bunting- Mid April</i></b> </span></div>One Snow Bunting was seen on the 4th of April, which set a new record for seeing one in the spring here. It made one circle around the lodge then was never seen again. So it seems it was an early bird that was traveling to some other destination. Our first Snow Bunting that came into the feeder arrived on the 17th, which is the long term average arrival date. The following morning a second male was seen at the feeder, and the two males were busy chasing each other around the yard. <br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Lucida Sans;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8z91YeooeI/AAAAAAAAAY4/RjmxJiZL6Q8/s1600-h/SNBU_TO_7499%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="SNBU_TO_7499" border="0" height="170" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8z92Mwu0OI/AAAAAAAAAY8/MfkcfaLIl2k/SNBU_TO_7499_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="SNBU_TO_7499" width="248" /></a><b><i>Take Off – Male Bunting</i></b> </span></div>The most recent male has taken to chasing the other one from the feeder every chance he gets. They still haven’t completely changed into their complete breeding plumage. Both still have brown caps, brown or black ring across the chest area, and lots of brown in their back feathers. It will be a while before they have their clear white heads and glossy black backs.<br />
Besides their chirping calls that they make most of the time, I have also heard them making their territorial call. It sounds like this to me “ATVeeee, ATVeeee”, and is usually made from a high perch next to the area they have selected for nesting. We have 20 nest boxes around the property for them to use and the males have plenty of time to make a selection as the females won’t start arriving for almost another two weeks. I watched one male yesterday making his ATVeeee call from several locations, like he was trying out different areas to see where his voice carried the best.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8z92nX7bXI/AAAAAAAAAZA/ui_i25jl8_I/s1600-h/SNBU_BX_7500%5B3%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="SNBU_BX_7500" border="0" height="248" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8z93I7UgXI/AAAAAAAAAZE/BHQQgRSgYcU/SNBU_BX_7500_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="SNBU_BX_7500" width="169" /></a> <br />
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Stepping outside and hearing the sweet melody of the Snow Bunting makes one almost forget that the ground is still 100% snow covered and some of the drifts are nine feet thick.<br />
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<b><i> Checking Out Nest box</i></b><br />
The Snow Buntings have been the first birds around the house this winter besides the ever present Raven. One of the individuals has a wing tag from a study done several years ago by the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8z939xbXUI/AAAAAAAAAZI/_DbsxY-Lknc/s1600-h/Raven-tagged1sm-CJ_6478%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Raven-tagged1sm-CJ_6478" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8z94QQTcBI/AAAAAAAAAZM/42sSDyUVr6g/Raven-tagged1sm-CJ_6478_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" title="Raven-tagged1sm-CJ_6478" width="244" /></a> <br />
<b><i> Wing Tagged Raven.</i></b>Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-38994826143778731372010-04-12T19:26:00.000-08:002010-04-14T19:29:45.398-08:00Warm Sunny Day<p>What a difference a day makes as we went from -25F to a balmy +26F in about twenty-four hours.  The weather had been colder than normal for this time of year, so it was an extra special day to be so warm with bright sunshine.  With the added reflection off the snow, it was so bright out that it made me squint even with sunglasses on.  It also has been a snowy winter and we have a deeper snow cover than we would on average.  Even with all the wind storms to blow snow away, most of the tundra lies buried and this has likely contributed to the fact that we have very little bird life around the house yet.  <br />I had hoped to see a few willow ptarmigan around the local area by now, but with the deeper snow cover they seem to be late moving this far north.  They are most likely still further up-river where the willows grow tall enough to reach above the snow and provide willow buds and left-over leaves on which the ptarmigan can feed.  Down here by the house our willows are only inches tall and one variety, the snow willow, grows flat along the ground.  For this reason, it doesn’t take much snow cover to make feeding hard for the ptarmigan. <br />I decided to take advantage of the nice day and take a snow machine trip, going up river a few miles to  see if I could find some  ptarmigan to photograph.  In 38km of travel, the only bird I saw was a raven about 2km from home.   After about an hour of wandering about 14km around the delta and seeing only a snowy landscape, I reached the south end of a large island that we can Ptarmigan Island.  It is good habitat for ptarmigan most seasons but today there wasn’t even a track or any sign that any birds had been feeding in the area in recent times.  <br />No birds here but I did find one lone cow caribou in one of the vegetated sand dune areas.  She was lying down chewing her cud when I first spotted her, and she finally got up as I neared her location.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIAmEkwCI/AAAAAAAAAXw/aSaa426X8zI/s1600-h/Caribou-sleep_7234%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Caribou-sleep_7234" border="0" alt="Caribou-sleep_7234" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIBbclIII/AAAAAAAAAX0/7X7y4GwMp_Y/Caribou-sleep_7234_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a> </p> <p>She let me get within 100 meters, then started moving off, with me following along for a short spell, taking pictures as I went.  </p> <p> </p> <p> <strong><em>         Resting Cow Caribou</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIBx-1wFI/AAAAAAAAAX4/nJgD_zl7G3Q/s1600-h/Caribou-Apr_7244%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Caribou-Apr_7244" border="0" alt="Caribou-Apr_7244" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIDPaxOgI/AAAAAAAAAX8/WZ1WwfVt5so/Caribou-Apr_7244_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a></p> <p>When I stopped following her, she went on for another 400 meters or so and went back to feeding.</p> <p> <br /><strong><em>Caribou Watching Me Take Its Picture.</em></strong></p> <p>As I turned away from the caribou, I spotted a red fox watching me on down the island a ways.  I drove towards it to see if I could get close enough for pictures.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIDj9TMxI/AAAAAAAAAYA/exJZ6iZ6NcI/s1600-h/RedFox-April_7265%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="RedFox-April_7265" border="0" alt="RedFox-April_7265" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIEKATIII/AAAAAAAAAYE/liB9hoR63HQ/RedFox-April_7265_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a> </p> <p>It didn’t seem too frightened and let me get with 120 meters, and when I stopped the snow machine, it turned back and worked closer to check me out.  </p> <p><strong><em></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>   Red Fox on a Bright Sunny Day.</em></strong></p> <p>There were signs that a seismic company had been doing work earlier in the winter in this area, and some of the crew probably had been leaving food out for it. Thus she worked downwind to see if there was any food smells about.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIE_cJLII/AAAAAAAAAYI/fsVe4bPl8Rc/s1600-h/RFox-face1_7267%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="RFox-face1_7267" border="0" alt="RFox-face1_7267" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIFT2nGzI/AAAAAAAAAYM/EvIl67Lz0kA/RFox-face1_7267_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="248" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIF-TckYI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/pUY9Xbj2TGI/s1600-h/IRFox-face2_7292%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IRFox-face2_7292" border="0" alt="IRFox-face2_7292" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIGQMVNjI/AAAAAAAAAYU/eFq1iQD-3QI/IRFox-face2_7292_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="248" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>The Pair of Red Foxes, Female on Left, Male on Right.</em></strong></p> <p>After about 10 minutes she decided to continue on down the ridge, going in the general direction of the feeding caribou.  I continued on my way in the opposite direction and as I drove over the top of large dune there was another fox out in a flat area.  I headed over in its direction and stopped about 75 meters away.  It was following along one of the old track vehicle trails, sniffing here and there, perhaps getting a few old food smells.   </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIHLWx67I/AAAAAAAAAYY/lozlZG_5cKs/s1600-h/RFox-squinting_7294%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="RFox-squinting_7294" border="0" alt="RFox-squinting_7294" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIHlpzkZI/AAAAAAAAAYc/owosKRWgJpY/RFox-squinting_7294_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a><strong><em>Sunglasses Needed!  Both Foxes and the Caribou Kept  Squinting in the Bright Light.</em></strong></p> <p>As it turns out, it was the male and he came within 20 meters of me, checking to see if I might have something of interest.  After taking several pictures we heard the female barking and he headed off in her direction.  I followed along hoping to get pictures of them together.  I did get a few long shots of them together but they kept moving rapidly along the ridge and finally separated, so I let them go their way and I continued on my travels to see what else I might find.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIIJcEU3I/AAAAAAAAAYg/cqsa42jeWYo/s1600-h/RFoxs-April_7304%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="RFoxs-April_7304" border="0" alt="RFoxs-April_7304" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIIoMJjvI/AAAAAAAAAYk/ODzlab5m4Ns/RFoxs-April_7304_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="170" /></a></p> <p>They were the last game seen on my travels this day, although I did see a lot of pretty country and it was great to just be outdoors enjoying such a bright day.  </p> <p>I stopped on top of a Pingo* to survey the surrounding area, looking for game. All I saw there was a set of fresh white fox tracks, but never saw the fox. <br /></p> <p>*A pingo is a mound of earth-covered ice found in the Arctic and subarctic that can reach up to 70 metres (230 ft) in height and can only form in a permafrost environment. They are essentially formed by ground ice which develops during the winter months as temperatures fall and cause the ground to push up.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIJTzj-RI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ZMXMR3YrX9M/s1600-h/CaribouFace_7245%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="CaribouFace_7245" border="0" alt="CaribouFace_7245" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S8aIJ50vg4I/AAAAAAAAAYs/AgTP8wS0kb0/CaribouFace_7245_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="248" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>A Close-up of the Caribou’s Face Showing Her Reacting to the Bright Sunshine.</em></strong></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-14106102755314992032010-03-06T10:36:00.000-09:002010-03-06T12:47:29.830-09:00Snowmachine Trip<p>February was on the warm side for us, and that in turn led to many overcast/whiteout or stormy days.  On one of the better weather days,while on the cold side, I took advantage of the clear skies and sunshine for a trip.</p> <p>It was a great feeling to be out in the sunshine after the dark days of deep winter. I traveled around 30 Km, enjoying the day, looking for caribou and foxes, which are the main large animals we have here this time of year.  I saw several small groups of caribou, from a single animal to a group of 7 cows, for a total of 30 head.  The sun was still low when I took a few pictures of one of the groups, and the snow drifts reflected an orange-red glow to the scene.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S5LNZeyvi5I/AAAAAAAAAXY/c2nWbmjXUKs/s1600-h/Winter-Caribou-Group4_6505%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Winter-Caribou-Group4_6505" border="0" alt="Winter-Caribou-Group4_6505" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S5LNaNNPs-I/AAAAAAAAAXc/B9zM8gpCc8M/Winter-Caribou-Group4_6505_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" height="138" /></a> </p> <p><em><strong>Group of Caribou cows feeding with pale sunlight reflecting on the snow drifts.</strong></em></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S5LNasF6eQI/AAAAAAAAAXg/zIBq_-CTtn0/s1600-h/WinterCaribou1_6504%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WinterCaribou1_6504" border="0" alt="WinterCaribou1_6504" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S5LNbIYg0yI/AAAAAAAAAXk/cxmNh_RGU3w/WinterCaribou1_6504_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a> </p> <p><strong><em>           Caribou cow close-up.</em></strong></p> <p>Besides the caribou, I saw two white foxes and one very dark red fox.  The white foxes were too far away for pictures but I watched them through the binoculars as they went about their day hunting for lemming nests under the snow.  As an adaption to winters in permafrost country, lemmings and voles make grass nests above ground during the winter months.  This in turn provides a winter food source for the foxes by having the rodents where they can catch them more readily.  Also, white foxes that are not attached to a den or raising pups, move around in the summer looking for abundant food sources like water fowl nesting colonies.  When they find a area of abundant food, like waterfowl nests, they cache most of the eggs for later.  Most of the time it isn’t the fox that made the cache that finds the food, as that fox could be hundreds of miles away by winter time.   Over the millennium this has developed into a survival technique that helps the foxes make it through the lean winter and early spring months when food is hard to locate.  </p> <p>When I saw the red fox, it was moving somewhat in my direction, so I drove over to a mound that was more in line with the fox's line of travel, and waited to see if it would come close enough for pictures.  With the cold temperatures (-25F/-32C), I kept my camera inside my fur parka that I was wearing.  That  way I don’t have to worry about it being out too long and having the battery frozen up when I'm ready to take a picture.  When the fox was about 200 meters from me, it realized I wasn’t just a dark spot on the mound and changed direction, moving away.  I started up the snowmachine and started following it, angling along its direction of travel.  It let me get close enough for a few pictures before it picked up speed and loped off.   </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S5LNbhTnzHI/AAAAAAAAAXo/8yOAOUG5jhM/s1600-h/Winter_Fox1_6499%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Winter_Fox1_6499" border="0" alt="Winter_Fox1_6499" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S5LNcFXf-uI/AAAAAAAAAXs/CWu9E--BAZ4/Winter_Fox1_6499_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" height="194" /></a></p> <p><strong><em>A dark red fox checking me out.</em></strong></p> <p>I then headed away from the fox, and after it watched me and was satisfied that I was indeed leaving, it turned and continued in the direction it had been going.  I’m sure it had a den off in that direction and will check it out later in the spring.  While I was looking for more caribou to film, I found what the red fox had been eating on, a dead yearling caribou.  It has been a hard winter for the caribou in this area as we have had two periods of melting and/or freezing rain.  This makes it harder for the caribou to dig through even a small amount of snow, and combined with all the blizzards and some cold temperatures, many of the yearlings have perished.</p> <p>From there I worked my way home as the sun was starting to set and picture taking conditions were about over.</p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-30810839545095233672010-02-02T09:33:00.000-09:002010-02-05T09:37:52.388-09:00Sunshine Returns<p>January seems to have gotten away from me.  I lost interest in updating entries as my father's, Bud Helmericks, health worsened and he finally pasted away on the 27th of the month.  He was one of Arctic Alaska’s early explorers, author, and a Bush Pilot with over 27,000 hours of flight <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlZto6bMI/AAAAAAAAAWk/yh9p5UwTH50/s1600-h/Bud%20Helmericks%20May-1952%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Bud Helmericks May-1952" border="0" alt="Bud Helmericks May-1952" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlaJUbN1I/AAAAAAAAAWo/9p16Ma0VRB4/Bud%20Helmericks%20May-1952_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="192" height="248" /></a>time, many of which were over uncharted territory.  His best known book is the “Last of the Bush Pilots”, a history of Alaska aviation.  </p> <p>This picture was taken in May 1956 as he was getting ready to fly out over the Arctic Ocean, going as far as the North Pole area in his Cessna 170, the “Arctic Tern”  </p> <p> </p> <p>Over the years, Dad’s birthday on January 18 has always been special; it coincided with the return of the sun after its winter retreat.   This year the the 18th was clear and <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlahPzsGI/AAAAAAAAAWs/iK7bvs8Pink/s1600-h/Setting_SunFlash_6361%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Setting_SunFlash_6361" border="0" alt="Setting_SunFlash_6361" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlbWW9YxI/AAAAAAAAAWw/hxIGZvrIC6w/Setting_SunFlash_6361_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="168" /></a>cold with the temperature right at –40F/40C, and the sun was visible for just over an hour.  For the first few days the sun never gets more than a half of a degree above the horizon, just rolling along as it extends its travel east to west.  Here the sun is setting in the south and the cold temperatures are causing it to be effected by mirages.  </p> <p>On January 19th I was able to get a picture of both a moon rise and sunset in the same photo. The moon still had three days to go to reach its first quarter, so is hard to see in the photo.   </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlb96L-rI/AAAAAAAAAW0/v_5nB5Z82QY/s1600-h/Moon-Sun_6008%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Moon-Sun_6008" border="0" alt="Moon-Sun_6008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlcX6lH1I/AAAAAAAAAW4/lpIVZXFBLks/Moon-Sun_6008_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="168" /></a> <strong><em>The new moon is in the left edge while the sun is setting in the right hand side.  A chilly day with the temperature at Minus 42F.</em></strong></p> <p>Even with all the bright cold days, the Aurora activity has remained low so there hasn't been very many opportunities for filming.  On two of the best nights, the wind chill was around –65F so I didn’t spend too much time outside with the camera.  I will end this with a few shots from those cold days. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlc9ZQgAI/AAAAAAAAAW8/n4KP_zoFwe8/s1600-h/JanuaryAurora_5954%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="JanuaryAurora_5954" border="0" alt="JanuaryAurora_5954" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xldeP9WOI/AAAAAAAAAXA/SZ9wOInRxQI/JanuaryAurora_5954_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="187" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Aurora Borealis streaks and bands over head, with just a touch of red in the upper areas</em></strong>.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xld2N4qtI/AAAAAAAAAXE/6D5cJxrKeSE/s1600-h/WingedAurora_6281%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="WingedAurora_6281" border="0" alt="WingedAurora_6281" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlekA0k6I/AAAAAAAAAXI/Iw0QSzKX25E/WingedAurora_6281_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="168" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>A green band of Aurora that has a wing feather effect on one edge.</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlfUpBmFI/AAAAAAAAAXM/2r-ttLBmSeI/s1600-h/SuperiorMirage_6413%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="SuperiorMirage_6413" border="0" alt="SuperiorMirage_6413" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/S2xlfwsfmQI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/GeybHpv-H2c/SuperiorMirage_6413_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="168" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>The cold weather created nice inversion layers, perfect conditions for great Superior Mirages.</em></strong>  </p> <p>On some days the effect lasted for hours and it was like watching a kaleidoscope with all the changing shapes and colors.</p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-62358363388847824522010-01-01T18:01:00.000-09:002010-01-01T18:08:15.770-09:00Christmas Halo and a Blue Moon<p>The last week of December gave us great weather for sky viewing.  We had several clear and cold nights that led to the formation of frost-ice crystals in the sky. This made conditions perfect for seeing several optical formations in association with the moon, as the tiny ice crystals in the atmosphere created halos by refracting and reflecting light.</p> <p>Solar activity has remained low and so far this winter there have been very few good aurora borealis viewing days in our area. However, just before Christmas there was a burst of solar energy from the sun and we were treated to a nice display early Christmas Day.  Besides the aurora we were treated to a halo and moon dogs as the moon was setting low in the western sky.  I was able to get a picture of both the moon halo and aurora together. As mentioned above, the tiny ice crystals in the atmosphere create halos by refracting and reflecting light.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64d88MUGI/AAAAAAAAAVk/zNLu1ZrV83g/s1600-h/ChristmasHalo_6188%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="ChristmasHalo_6188" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="ChristmasHalo_6188" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64emlE0fI/AAAAAAAAAVo/cn_sMkMVJKY/ChristmasHalo_6188_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><em><strong>Aurora Borealis mixed in with a halo and moon dogs.</strong></em></p> <p>As the moon became full, conditions on the last two days of December were ideal for several types of optical phenomena involving the moon. One involved what is referred to as a Blue Moon, which is a second full moon in a single month. On the evening of the 30th, I also filmed a complex halo display.  There was a 22 degree halo around the moon with a parhelic circle running parallel to the halo, and where they intersected, moon dogs or parselena appeared. The 22 degree halo is  formed when moonlight passes through pencil-shaped ice crystals floating in freezing clouds. When parhelia and moon dogs are present you know that there is a mixture of plate-shaped ice crystals that are reflecting light to create these, and the pencil-shaped ones that form the halo. For more on ice crystals see: <a title="http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halosim.htm" href="http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halosim.htm">http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halosim.htm</a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64f2QuuYI/AAAAAAAAAVs/0ejOIX6AUMU/s1600-h/BlueMoonHalo_2009%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="BlueMoonHalo_2009" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="BlueMoonHalo_2009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64gc_HUBI/AAAAAAAAAVw/JxPEZZyGoM0/BlueMoonHalo_2009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> <em><strong>Complex halo with moon dogs and parhelic circle. Bright star upper center is Mars.</strong></em></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64gybwyAI/AAAAAAAAAV0/JajoINC7bNA/s1600-h/MoonHaloHouse09Dec%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="MoonHaloHouse09Dec" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="MoonHaloHouse09Dec" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64hbmQVsI/AAAAAAAAAV4/h0eQmBH6qOE/MoonHaloHouse09Dec_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong><em>Moon with Halo over our home.</em></strong></p> <p>Not pictured in the first photo was a fleeting but bright circumzenithal arc above the halo.  It wasn’t attached to the halo and was right overhead.  They are formed by the same crystal formation as the parhelia’s plate-shaped ones. Circumzenithal arcs are some of the brightest of the ice crystal phenomena due to the refraction through the ice crystals.  They can rival a rainbow in color, but unlike a rainbow they are seen on the same side as the sun or moon.  It resembles an upside down rainbow but the red is on the outside.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64iMG32II/AAAAAAAAAV8/8nVuTn30jSw/s1600-h/circumzenithal-arc60%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="circumzenithal-arc60" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="circumzenithal-arc60" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64jGwCv8I/AAAAAAAAAWA/epYkCAq5UE0/circumzenithal-arc60_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a>   </p> <p><em><strong>Circumzenithal Arc is the most beautiful of all the halos.</strong></em></p> <p>In the early hours of December 31, I took a picture of our homestead in the bright moon light and a small patch of cloud iridescence can be seen in the thin cloud next to the moon.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64jzrsKsI/AAAAAAAAAWE/UsAQx_P9Cos/s1600-h/BlueMoon_2009_12_31_0095%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="BlueMoon_2009_12_31_0095" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="BlueMoon_2009_12_31_0095" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64kWwN4lI/AAAAAAAAAWI/a27U0oWArPU/BlueMoon_2009_12_31_0095_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><em><strong>Moon light showing some iridescence in the clouds.</strong></em></p> <p>The last optical phenomena seen during this time was a diffraction coronae around the full blue moon on New Year’s eve.  The moon was shinning through a thin layer of cloud and a series of concentric colored rings formed around it.  You have the colorless center aureole, then a bluish and reddish ring.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64k0ZDOgI/AAAAAAAAAWM/k4T0qIo1sM0/s1600-h/BlueMoon2-sm0184%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="BlueMoon2-sm0184" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="BlueMoon2-sm0184" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64lkjqd7I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/6z0Pp417Ies/BlueMoon2-sm0184_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><em><strong>Coronae around the moon sitting over Drilling Rig.</strong></em></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64mIjZOJI/AAAAAAAAAWU/JFrIdbPxL9E/s1600-h/Moon-Glory-antler_2009%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Moon-Glory-antler_2009" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Moon-Glory-antler_2009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64miKW27I/AAAAAAAAAWY/y5clGThJdaM/Moon-Glory-antler_2009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong><em>Moon with coronae framed by caribou antlers.</em></strong></p> <p>All in all it was a great way to end 2009.  Here is best wishes to all for the coming New Year and keep looking up.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64nMQazsI/AAAAAAAAAWc/Tt4lUs-pETQ/s1600-h/Moon_crop-0101%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Moon_crop-0101" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Moon_crop-0101" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sz64nvNdd-I/AAAAAAAAAWg/vZibN1Gg6h8/Moon_crop-0101_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><em><strong>2009 Blue Moon over Colville Alaska.</strong></em></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-15133243639469396572009-12-19T15:39:00.000-09:002009-12-19T19:30:47.266-09:00Geminid Meteor Shower No – Aurora Borealis Yes<p>I guess our location was to far West and North to see much of the Geminid meteor shower even though we did have good conditions. *See the update I took off Spaceweather.com web site for more info on the meteor shower.  I also added the picture taken in Norway of a bright  meteor flash from Astronomy’s photo of the day 19 December. *  The skies had cleared with the incoming cold weather and I even braved the –25F temperatures for several hours hoping to see and film a bright meteor burning as it entered earths atmosphere.</p> <p>Five hours of viewing for me produced a total of 20 meteors, most 20 minutes a part.  While I didn’t see many meteors, there were several nice Aurora Borealis displays for me to enjoy and it made being out in the cold for the night worthwhile.  I even managed to film one very weak meteor in one of my Aurora pictures. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sy2oXYBAN8I/AAAAAAAAAVE/gHPze6QJ7Wk/s1600-h/Aurora_streak_5962%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Aurora_streak_5962" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Aurora_streak_5962" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sy2oYCLiQaI/AAAAAAAAAVI/aAe4bfZR4eI/Aurora_streak_5962_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong><em>Faint meteor streak above the right ice sculpture.</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sy2oYviaEJI/AAAAAAAAAVM/WOYDbJAk1V0/s1600-h/Aurora-BoatFrost_5992%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Aurora-BoatFrost_5992" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Aurora-BoatFrost_5992" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sy2oZXbT7jI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/u-Cx_XM1UzI/Aurora-BoatFrost_5992_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><em><strong>Frost covered boat with the Aurora shimmering overhead.</strong></em></p> <p><strong><em><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sy2oZzAzKgI/AAAAAAAAAVU/P9FRtYN5ve4/s1600-h/AuroraDec_6032%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="AuroraDec_6032" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="AuroraDec_6032" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sy2oaVYcUgI/AAAAAAAAAVY/9BUh8TkdCa4/AuroraDec_6032_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>A big wide band of green Aurora over houses.</em></strong></p> <p>*GEMINID METEOR UPDATE:  On Dec. 13th, Earth passed through a stream of debris from extinct comet 3200 Phaethon. The encounter produced a surge of more than 160 Geminid meteors per hour. The timing of the peak favored observers in Europe and the Middle East, many of whom said it was the finest display of Geminids they had ever seen. </p> <p>Geminids are pieces of debris from a strange object called 3200 Phaethon. Long thought to be an asteroid, Phaethon is now classified as an extinct comet. It is, basically, the rocky skeleton of a comet that lost its ice after too many close encounters with the sun. Earth runs into a stream of debris from 3200 Phaethon every year in mid-December, causing meteors to fly from the constellation Gemini</p> <p><strong>Astronomy Picture of the Day-</strong><b>December 19, 2009</b></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sy2obx_1WaI/AAAAAAAAAVc/uNL75poEWn4/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img title="image" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sy2odaqhhuI/AAAAAAAAAVg/A2wbL9lp7VI/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><b>Aurora Shimmer, Meteor Flash </b> <br /><b>Credit & <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply">Copyright</a>: </b><a href="mailto:big%20dot%20hansen%20at%20bgnett%20dot%20no">Bjørnar G. Hansen, </a></p> <p><b>Explanation: </b><a href="http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/auroras/">Northern Lights</a>, or <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090922.html">aurora</a> borealis, haunted <a href="http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01dec09.htm">skies over</a> the island of Kvaløya, near Tromsø Norway on December 13. This 30 second long exposure records their shimmering glow gently lighting the wintery coastal scene. A study in contrasts, it also captures the sudden flash of a fireball meteor from December's excellent <a href="http://spaceweather.com/meteors/gallery_13dec09_page3.htm">Geminid meteor shower</a>. Streaking past familiar stars in the handle of the <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap050218.html">Big Dipper</a>, the trail points back toward the constellation Gemini, off the top of the view. Both aurora and meteors occur in Earth's upper atmosphere at altitudes of 100 kilometers or so, but <a href="http://odin.gi.alaska.edu/FAQ/#cause">aurora are</a> caused by energetic charged particles from the <a href="http://www.phy6.org/Education/">magnetosphere</a>, while meteors are trails of <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990219.html">cosmic dust</a>. </p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-62529084498720668492009-12-08T16:06:00.000-09:002009-12-08T16:07:45.232-09:00Winter Time Mirages<p>Mirages     </p> <p>    A new month has started and conditions have been excellent for producing mirages. Several storm fronts have moved through the area rather quickly and over riding temperature layers have led to some spectacular mirages. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74QcXRSRI/AAAAAAAAAS8/VNSR6ieo6kE/s1600-h/MirageNov_2023%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="MirageNov_2023" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="160" alt="MirageNov_2023" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74RMFyjlI/AAAAAAAAATI/UiI7C1BbunI/MirageNov_2023_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p><em><strong>Morning Skyline to the East, Superior and Fata Morgana mirages.</strong></em></p> <p>     First of all, what's a mirage? They are real phenomena of atmospheric optics, caused by strong ray-bending in layers with steep thermal gradients. Because mirages are real physical phenomena, they can be photographed.  In a mirage, there is at least one inverted image of some object. </p> <p>     Often a mirage contains multiple images, alternately erect and inverted. Mirages are classified according to the number and relative positions of these images. The classical mirages are:</p> <p><strong># of Images       Name      Description</strong></p> <p><strong>2</strong>     <em>Inferior mirage      Inverted image below erect one</em></p> <p><strong>2</strong>     <em>Superior mirage     Inverted image above erect one</em></p> <p><strong>3</strong>     <em>3-image mirage     Inverted image between erect one</em></p> <p><strong>3+</strong>    <em>Fata Morgana      complex alteration of distorted erect  and inverted images  </em></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74RgXHANI/AAAAAAAAATU/MBduL8PESVY/s1600-h/MirageDec11_00392.jpg"><img title="MirageDec11_0039" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="MirageDec11_0039" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74SbEN49I/AAAAAAAAATg/IGpEz0iN8Q8/MirageDec11_0039_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a></p> <p><em><strong>The surrounding lights lifted up in a complex Fata Morgana mirage in the cold morning air.  The mirages are caused by a sharp temperature inversion.</strong></em></p> <p> <br />     We continue to have great conditions for mirages. I have posted another photo today, taken this morning of village lights 23 miles away. The lights are lifted up in five layers and you can see some of the bending of the refraction layers in the top two layers.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74TLHkmxI/AAAAAAAAATs/0O6h4kF8Y0M/s1600-h/Mirage_Nui-Dec1%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Mirage_Nui-Dec1" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="148" alt="Mirage_Nui-Dec1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74Two4g7I/AAAAAAAAAT4/X-lZqWODqKU/Mirage_Nui-Dec1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74USz1pEI/AAAAAAAAAUE/Gp29X-tKvIY/s1600-h/Mirage_OTP_Dec_2087%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Mirage_OTP_Dec_2087" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="148" alt="Mirage_OTP_Dec_2087" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74U5zPa5I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/RV7QBaJlr9Y/Mirage_OTP_Dec_2087_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a></p> <p><strong><em>Above is another shot of mirages to the NE of us with objects in the Kuparuk Oilfield lifted up</em></strong>.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74VorFuoI/AAAAAAAAAUc/FTWjRc7cFH4/s1600-h/CD_North3_2410%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="CD_North3_2410" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="CD_North3_2410" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74W4s44ZI/AAAAAAAAAUo/Xa6Sra1Ez1c/CD_North3_2410_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong><em>A good example of a Superior Mirage, CD North drill rig.</em></strong></p> <p>*A superior mirage occurs when an image of an object appears above the actual object, due to the refraction of light waves from the object down toward the eyes of the observer. Downward refraction occurs because air closer to the ground is colder, and therefore more dense, then air higher up. Superior mirages can take the form of looming, towering, and inversion, depending on the particular structure of the air column. </p> <p>** The fata morgana is a complex mirage in which distant objects are distorted as well as elongated vertically. For example, a relatively flat river bank may appear to have tall cliffs and columns. The phenomenon occurs under much the same meteorological conditions as the superior mirage with inversion, and contains features of both towering and inversion. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong>ECLIPSE MIRAGE:</strong></p> <p>What do you get when you combine a solar eclipse with a temperature inversion? Answer--a very strange Alaskan sunset. I took this picture from the Colville River Delta of Alaska's North Slope on March 18th 2007:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74XS9ygHI/AAAAAAAAAU0/g8FIgmBPo1I/s1600-h/SolarEclipseMirage4a_5237%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="SolarEclipseMirage4a_5237" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="SolarEclipseMirage4a_5237" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/Sx74YDxdaEI/AAAAAAAAAVA/my6fNd0JhFc/SolarEclipseMirage4a_5237_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The crescent shape of the sun is caused by a partial eclipse--the Moon passed off-center in front of the sun on March 18th and 19th. This was widely seen from India, China, and the northern reaches of Alaska. The rest is a mirage....</p> <p>Below is taken from spaceWeather.com when they ran the eclipse photo:</p> <p>"Alaska is the place for strong mirages," explains atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley. "Often, layers of very cold air sit beneath warmer layers. Here the abnormal refraction has produced a distorted and strongly flattened partially eclipsed sun. The miraging temperature inversion layers can be seen crossing the sun and at each side."</p> <p>"Conditions like these often produce green flashes," he adds, but so far no one has reported a flash to go with this eclipse.</p> <p>Green flashes will be another topic covered in a future post.</p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-81573216924943635712009-11-22T20:33:00.000-09:002009-11-22T20:35:53.627-09:00Last Sunset of 2009<p>Today (October 22) marked a mile stone for us, as it was the last day of the sun above the horizon in 2009.  It will be another 58 days weather permitting, before we see the sun on January 19, 2010 at 12:30 PM.  Officially it will remain up for a total of 1 hour and 8 minutes, but the cold air of winter can make it do strange things.  I have seen the sun come up and set three times  on the day before it was due back, due to mirage and inversion layers effecting the view.  When it does come back it just rolls along the horizon for several days before it gets much altitude.  This can make viewing difficult as it doesn’t take much of a cloud layer along the horizon to obscure the sun. Below are a couple shots taken two days ago of the sun low in the sky.  I was busy with a conference call today and missed the last view of the sun.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofJJAHiRI/AAAAAAAAASM/qedr92xw7bc/s1600-h/NovemberFireball_5943%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="NovemberFireball_5943" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="248" alt="NovemberFireball_5943" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofJuAlEUI/AAAAAAAAASQ/gkJbYv-Isy0/NovemberFireball_5943_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofKPuF8PI/AAAAAAAAASU/JFHXr_XW3g4/s1600-h/Nov-Sunset_5945%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Nov-Sunset_5945" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="252" alt="Nov-Sunset_5945" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofKneGrVI/AAAAAAAAASY/HKU3pgKZMJA/Nov-Sunset_5945_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>We still get several hours of twilight, even on the shortest day of the year in December.  Sometimes at night it is even brighter than during the day with a bright moon, and /or Northern Lights reflecting brightly off the snow.  The months ahead make for good star viewing and Aurora watching, if one doesn’t have to bad of a wind chill to put up with.  I look forward to the months ahead hoping that clear nights coincide with lots of Aurora activity. </p> <p>Here are a few Aurora Borealis Pictures taken over the past week or so. Most night they were just a faint green or grayish green.  </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofLXQjALI/AAAAAAAAASc/-Ze0dkP-GLo/s1600-h/Aurora_22Nov09_5706%20copy%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Aurora_22Nov09_5706 copy" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Aurora_22Nov09_5706 copy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofLznWBuI/AAAAAAAAASg/BN2i8-YPWjw/Aurora_22Nov09_5706%20copy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong><em>This display was just stating to pick up some reds.</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofMWRgh6I/AAAAAAAAASk/j5RfUk3C4NE/s1600-h/AuroraWavelets2%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="AuroraWavelets2" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="AuroraWavelets2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofMy-MtNI/AAAAAAAAASo/SBq0910e4TM/AuroraWavelets2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong><em>Cloud streaks produced a neat display even though the Aurora weren’t very bright.</em></strong></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofNs5NxmI/AAAAAAAAASs/yYbCyRFewPM/s1600-h/Aurora-WXshelter_5689%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Aurora-WXshelter_5689" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Aurora-WXshelter_5689" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SwofOJNHapI/AAAAAAAAASw/D5yBvMv2cmg/Aurora-WXshelter_5689_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><strong><em>For about 20 minutes one night we had a really nice bright display.  Looking off to the west, instrument shelter in the foreground.</em></strong></p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835644452160161094.post-69138642905620480642009-11-04T08:58:00.000-09:002009-11-04T09:00:09.423-09:00New Bird Sighted At Homestead<p>With late fall drifting into early winter I thought I would cover some of the rarer birds seen this year.   It is a sad time when the last snow buntings leave for the winter and the feeder sits empty.  It always takes a few days to get over the expectation of seeing them squabbling and chasing each other around the willows and feeder.  About all we are going to see the rest of the winter is ravens, ptarmigan, and perhaps a wintering snow owl.</p> <p>Our fall storms during migration time occasionally drops a rare bird in our lap.  Most of the time it is a bird that breeds not too far away and has just strayed a bit. Then we get really lucky and a bird from distant shores arrives. Last year for the second season in a row we had a finch show up at the feeder with the Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis).  In 2007 it was a female Cassin’s Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) and then 2008 we had a lovely male Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus ) at the feeder for several days from late September to early October.  September also brought a juvenile Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus ), both were new birds for the Colville.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBEvIImYI/AAAAAAAAARk/1mndBBoMd84/s1600-h/Finch30Sept08_14743.jpg"><img title="Finch30Sept08_1474" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="248" alt="Finch30Sept08_1474" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBFW6eEkI/AAAAAAAAARo/kJk_06UKA5o/Finch30Sept08_1474_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBF2zWA7I/AAAAAAAAARs/oparMwrBxjI/s1600-h/CommonCuckoo1_09563.jpg"><img title="CommonCuckoo1_0956" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="248" alt="CommonCuckoo1_0956" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBGTgvLAI/AAAAAAAAARw/EjsawqXtihA/CommonCuckoo1_0956_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="155" align="right" border="0" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>          <strong><em>Purple Finch                Common Cuckoo - Juvenile</em></strong></p> <p>This year we managed two fall migrants, one a Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla), a neat bird to see as we get very few warblers this far north.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBHaFniBI/AAAAAAAAAR0/qFohxrdJkOQ/s1600-h/Warbler09_sm_36293.jpg"><img title="Warbler09_sm_3629" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="248" alt="Warbler09_sm_3629" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBIEIsBiI/AAAAAAAAAR4/RzSbviwhfQk/Warbler09_sm_3629_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Wilson’s have been recorded several times here both in the spring and fall.  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The second bird was seen feeding around the house in mid-October, looking cold and hungry.  It was busy feeding on grass seed heads sticking out of the snow, and even though the light was poor, I was able to get a good picture of it.  At first I thought it was a juvenile Lincoln's Sparrow  (Melospiza lincolnii), the only other Lincolns I had seen was a adult in the spring several years ago.  After review from other birders that had more experience with the subject, it turned out to be a juvenile Chipping Sparrow  (Spizella passerina).  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBIrIqyVI/AAAAAAAAAR8/KCDGtAWhe1g/s1600-h/Fall_sparrow1d_58772.jpg"><img title="Fall_sparrow1d_5877" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="Fall_sparrow1d_5877" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBJHX_R9I/AAAAAAAAASA/Ts27i266Y6o/Fall_sparrow1d_5877_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a></p> <p><strong><em>                 Chipping Sparrow - Juvenile</em></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBJuDupeI/AAAAAAAAASE/t70J6fuFZis/s1600-h/FallRedpoll_59373.jpg"><img title="Fall-Redpoll_5937" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="248" alt="Fall-Redpoll_5937" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_dVsfGxKfuvE/SvHBKDNdEZI/AAAAAAAAASI/UQ-k53Knx0g/FallRedpoll_5937_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" align="left" border="0" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>For some reason we also had a few Hoary Redpolls  (Carduelis  hornemanni) show up in October after our local breeders had been gone for several weeks.  In mid month, two showed up and the one juvenile was still being fed by the other bird. It was doing its wing flutter and begging till it was fed.  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>With the days becoming shorter quickly, it won’t be long until the sun is gone and it will be the season for watching the heavens, counting stars and watching the Aurora dance over head. </p> Jim Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01818165533849083709noreply@blogger.com0