Saturday, October 06, 2007
Autumn in the San Juan Islands
It's October, and this year, it feels like it. Last year on this day we were kayaking out there in short-sleeved shirts and complaining about our sunburned noses, but that was last year.
Today is cool and wet, and it appears that the gray skies have no intention of clearing out this weekend. A warm front is expected to pass over us in the late hours of the day, followed by a cold front on Sunday. Next week looks to be more of the same, with storm systems queuing up out in the Gulf of Alaska like sullen pugilists, waiting their turn to hit the Pacific Coast with a nasty right-hook.
But still, it is beautiful this morning.
The air is calm and everybody's lawns are filled with Robins migrating down from Alaska, on their way to warmer climates like Mexico and Central America.
The autumnal bird migration is in full swing now. My favorite time of the year. We never know what will turn up. Yesterday we saw clouds of shorebirds moving into the mudflats of the Skagit River Delta. The local Peregrine falcon population seemed eager to greet these newcomers and we saw multiple attacks on them. There may be no greater beauty that a huge flock of birds flying in absolute synchronization, twisting and swerving and folding in on itself to confuse a predator. Likewise, there may be no scene more powerful than a Peregrine falcon stooping through this confusion of birds at 80 mph and taking one right out of the air in a small explosion of feathers.
The sea kayaking during this time of the year is great. Never mind the passing sprinkles, just throw on a fleece jacket and some Gore-Tex, we have the San Juan Islands to ourselves now. The crowds of summer have long gone and most everyone else is holed up in their living rooms watching soap opera re-runs. For those who have the mettle to get outside the rewards are fantastic. Besides, the hot cocoa tastes better after you've earned it with a little physical activity.
