Overcast, becoming partly cloudy. Clearing in the late afternoon. Chilly winds out of the north starting in the afternoon.

I made it out for some birding this afternoon.

I spent time at ANB harbor watching to see if a Horned Puffin might come close (Connor saw one right by the dock yesterda).

  One puffin was out in the middle, but I never saw it come close.

  A flock of Barrow's Goldeneye flew in and landed right near the Horned Puffin. I think it was startled at first

I did see a sea otter eating. It was not right by the dock, but was close enough for me to identify the red rock crab it had.

A ways out off the kelp patch pullout I saw a Pigeon Guillemot, my first of the year.

The sky was beginning to clear, and I wondered if there might be a nice sunset. I was feeling tired and decided not to try and stay out long enough to see. Based on photos I saw posted on Facebook, the skies did clear enough for some nice light. We’re nearing the end of green flash season (at least where I like to watch from). If skies clear out as forecast, I’ll try to make sure to take a look over the next couple of days.

Other than my afternoon outing, I spent a good chunk of the day resting. I didn’t sleep well last night. Today I have had a headache and the sensitive skin + mild whole body achiness that I associate with getting sick. Hopefully I will be back to normal soon.

Had I not been feeling off, I probably would have headed out for the tide this evening. Connor went out and met up at Sandy Beach with aquarist from the science center. He wanted a masked greenling for the aquarium, and Connor knew the pool where I had found them yesterday. It sounds like they found some other interesting stuff as well.

My iNaturalist Observations for Today

Sea Otter Sea Otter with Red Rock Crab Horned Puffin Sea Otter in the Channel Horned Puffin and Barrow's Goldeneyes Horned Puffin and Barrow's GoldeneyesThe post Channel Watching first appeared on Sitka Nature.