TALK ABOUT ICE........I have been under the weather in more ways than one, but did get out yesterday once the wind died down to a tolerable level. The wind and cold have been just plain wicked. Those two conditions make for teary eyes and blurred vision, though the sun was a bit of a lure. But today, it was calm, the waves came in a tiny ripples as if they had lost their energy. The ducks were diving and having a ball, seemingly undisturbed by surf. This is not the time of year to be climbing on the rocks. This picture tells the story. Rocks are often coated with ice above the high tide line. Any thawing finds its way into canyons and creates massive ice jams. The trails, once filled with rainwater, are now often iced over. I used cleats on my shoes, and was glad to probe ahead with a ski pole for navigating the ice, sometimes covered with snow. These are not good tracking conditions. I did see deer prints - remember these animals may be 150+ lbs. and would cause a depression in the crust. The beaver's lodge appeared to be iced in. I didn't see any opening in the ice, where it might have emerged. These animals may hole up in their lodge for several days when the conditions are severe, but he'll be out if it takes a bit of ice chiseling and bumping.
These appeared to be about 5 inches in length.
These animals are important food for owls, hawks, foxes, bobcats,
weasels and raccoons - all of which may also be active on a winter's
day. The voles have a high birthrate. I read where they give birth
in every month of the year! But what are they looking to eat,
if they are not eaten? They are herbivorous, and their food consists
of roots, grasses and seeds. They do not hibernate, but may remain
active even under snow. Their nests are made of grasses formed
in a bell shape either under ground or in a burrow. I did see
a Hawk flying low over the dunes probably chasing a vole.
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charts and go when the tide is low. The tide keeps the sand from
icing over, and still lays down the usual assortment of flotsam
and jetsam to delight the curious. A friend and I both found Sea
Stars. Mine was a common Asterias forbsei while hers was
a tiny Blood Star, Henricia sanguinolenta. These were both
found on the strand line, and no doubt would have succumbed to
the cold or been eaten by scavenging gulls. Instead, we picked
them up and placed them in pools that should remain moist even
with retreating tidal water. In the picture t
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the right, you see the underside of the Asterias. Notice also
that it is in the process of regenerating a new ray. I think it
is trying to turn over on the sand.