Mim's Missives

Mt. Robert’s from Flume Trail

Mim — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:26:57 +0000

The view of Mt. Robert’s from the Flume Trail in Juneau.

Orchid blossoms

Mim — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:08:19 +0000

Our orchid plant has been producing these lovely blooms that last only 24 hours. They smell heavenly. Anyone have a name for this plant?

Views from Japonski Island

Mim — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:26:48 +0000

These images were taken in Feb. and March 2009.

misc. Sitka photos

Mim — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:22:49 +0000

Fiddle Grind 2009

Seattle and Willapa Bay, WA

Mim — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:04:59 +0000

This trip south to Seattle and Willapa Bay area in Washington State was made in February, 2009.

YouTube videos:
Cape Disappointment
Groovin’ in Seattle

Pike Place Market

Cape Disappointment

harvesting razor clams

signs of the dying oyster fishery in Willapa Bay

Coast Gaurd base at Cape Disappointment

Great Blue Heron

Mim — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:53:27 +0000

Great Blue Heron

Misc. Sitka Photos

Mim — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:43:06 +0000

This is a collection of photos since January 6.

Anchored sailboat

The Annual Fiddle Grind

harbor day

Mt. Edgecumbe from Sandy Beach

Mt. Edgecumbe from Starrigaven

Mt. Edgecumbe from the Turnaround

Katlian Boathouse

sea lion resting

sea lion swimming under seagull

New Year’s Day on the water

Mim — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:18:28 +0000

We went on a ride on the M/V Nepenthe with Captain Mike Nurco and saw some beautiful sites on New Year’s Day.

Sitka Sound Seafood and ANB Harbor

Part of Sitka's Indian Village

ANB with Robinsons' old troller, Yankee

Downtown Sitka from water

Sitka's Pioneer Home from water

Close-up of Sitka's Pioneer Home

Japonski Island, O'Connell Bridge, and Sitka

Eastern Channel from Pirate's Cove

Approaching Sitka from Eastern Channel

These pictures below are views around the harbor.

Buffleheads in Thomson Harbor

Bufflehead taking flight

Male Bufflehead

F/V Polaris and Mt. Edgecumbe

Anchored sailboat and Mt. Edgecumbe

Bird ID resolved!

Mim — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:00:32 +0000

I have two birds shown below. Thanks to the Sitka Bird List, I now know that the first two photos of the same bird (it was moving in and out of the sunlight) are of a Pelagic Cormorant, probably immature. The bottom one with the yellow bill is an immature Double-Crested Cormorant. Both were seen in Eliason Harbor. Thanks to Kitty, Sandy and Matt for the help! I quote Matt Goff:

The bird with the relatively thin dark bill is a Pelagic Cormorant. Note that it also has a relatively thin neck (as compared to the other bird).

The bird with the thicker yellow bill is a Double-crested Cormorant (the crests don’t show up until the spring). It also has a relatively thicker neck.

cormorant

Same cormorant

immature Double-Crested Cormorant

Winter Diving in Southeast Alaska

Mim — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:43:01 +0000

Walking down the dock the other very cold day I came across these two brave souls doing something I know I would, and will never, do. They were preparing to dive into the waters of Eliason Harbor to bang growth off of the aluminum anodes attached to the bases of the steel pilings. The anodes are sacrificial which means that they will corrode before the pilings do. But only if they aren’t covered with things you find at low tide like barnacles and other weird undersea stuff. So these guys were hired by the Harbor Dept. to clean them, which they have discovered works best with a hammer. You couldn’t pay me enough.

Dave Nelson and Greg Horton

Greg and Dave prepare to dive

Dave dives

Greg dives

Gwynfyd in January

Float 7 Eliason Harbor