Diario de laurenkay

Spent the afternoon out on the R/V Centennial exploring the biology of the San Juan Islands! We did two otter trawls and pulled up a net full of amazing creatures...several different species of flatfishes (we have yet to identify which), Eumicrotremus orbis, lots of shrimp and decorator crabs. There were several Liparis species, one of which had a very unique pattern, almost camouflage like and another which had a marble patterned body. I will hit the labs with my field guide and report back on the species names. One of the most exciting catches of the day was a spotted ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei which is a cartilaginous fish with distinct green eyes and a venomous spine on its dorsal fin.

Another interesting find was a mermaid's purse, or the egg case of a Chondrichthyes. After learning about how the developing embryo uses its tail to pump water through the case, it was really exciting to see a real one.

Along the way we also saw several harbor seals and even a couple breaching porpoises and there was a steady trail of seagulls following us the whole time. Overall, it was a beautiful day out on the water. So much life in the Sound, both above and below the surface.

After what seems like weeks of solid rain, we finally had a clear day. It was cold, but the sun was shining and I couldn't help but spend the day outside. Spent a good hour sitting out on a little sunny knoll overlooking the bay and harbor. There were 3 or 4 deer grazing around me, so I tried to get in some sketches of them. It's amazing how much more you notice when you take the time to really study an animal and draw it, rather than just taking a picture. From an hour of just looking and attempting to draw these animals, I now know and will remember much more about their coloration, shape, the movement of their legs and ears. The same goes for the trees and plants...in the small landscape that I drew, there were so many different types of grasses. I had never really noticed it before.

Today is another beautiful day. Might head out and sketch some smaller creatures on the beach.

Spent my first weekend off the island since September. Took a quick trip over to Anacortes to explore, and hike around. Went on a nice hike through the woods in a local park with some beautifully old trees, including Madronas. Some trees out on a bluff overlooking the water were warped and wind blown with bare and twisted trunks---very unique shapes. Also one of the outlooks was a bluff covered in this interesting red rock. It was scared and rutted like it had been scraped, I'm not sure much about the geology of the area but I'm guessing it was shaped by glacier movement.

Explored the view from Mt. Erie. The designated lookout platforms offer a poor view of the area, but if you hike back from the paved path, there is an incredible view of the islands, mountains and water. It was crazy windy, we thought we'd be blown off.

The ferry crossing back to the island was a little rough. Very strong winds, and white caps, but we made it back safe.