What else is at the beach?

When you go down to the beaches of Kodiak,
 what is there to see?

Yes, kelp like in yesterday's blog.
But you can see a little more if you pay attention
Like the skeleton of that kelp, when its fleshier portions withers away.

and other animals of the sea who've washed up on shore.

Kind on neat sponges, wouldn't you say?
Not like those synthetic ones in your mama's sink.

By the way....aren't you impressed how those old biologists were able to organize plants and animals in the old days? Did you really believe 40 years ago that sponges were animals? Well, looks lie those guys were smarter than me. Check out how right they were at:

http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/why-sponges-are-animals/


Anyway, back to what we see on the beach.
There are also  "in-animate animals" here to see...

like this stranded white "Beluga Whale"

Or, how about this....

pre-historic alligator skull.

Interesting what you can see at the beach, isn't it?
If you have an active imagination.
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Kodiak snakes

We have no scorpions, tarantulas, or wild boars here on the island.

And our mosquitoes are few and puny by Alaskan inland standards.

But, we'll show you what we do have.

No, this is not a scene form Indiana Jone's Raiders of the Lost Ark.

But it's as close as we get to snakes in Kodiak.

It's kelp.
To some it's just a  a seaweed. But to us it's what makes undersea forests for our otters to play in and to feed off the seashell animals that live among them

These things can get to be 20-30 or more feet long.
And we find them all bunched up at the beach after a storm.

They don't bother us there,

as you can see those dogs playing around them, 

while another watches and hopes to be invited to play....

.... except that they can be slippery to walk on.
And can grab your paddle with their large leaves, as you kayak through them in the water.
(But don't expect to see those fronds, 'cause the rough waves have shred them up before they reach the beach)

These guys attach themselves to rocks and barnacles
by the tentacles from their bulbs down to the seafloor.

like this old one did,

which has attached itself so well, that it brought with it the shell when pulled by the storm.

Well, there you have it. The closest things to snakes we have in Kodiak.

If you are a snakephobic, just remember they are not real.
They just kind of look like them.
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Local art

Early summer is when kids are out of school,
and want to make a mark on the world.

Here in Kodiak, it means decorating our cliffs,

even if it means hanging out your own ladder to create your work.

Is that the "Wumpus" form the old TI computer game of the 1980's?
Probably not.

Anyway, don't worry if you don't like this self-expression,
those works of art wash off with time.
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Paddle out

As long as you dress warm,

this is the time to paddle out

see the sights

and come back close to the shoreline,

while looking for our seals and otters.
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As the sun sets...

it is time to build a beach fire,

discuss what is important,


and do a little bonding,

between the generations.

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Summer is swimming time.

School's out.  Crabfest is over.

It's nearly 60 degrees.

So, it must be ....time to go swimming.

Well....maybe not for some.

Meanwhile...at the other end of the beach,

older kids warm up by a fire, before venturing in.

Looked like fun!

But,....it seems like the campfire didn't really help,

not when the water is at 44 degrees! 

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It's going to be a good Summer!

A week ago,  school let  out.
The sun came out, shinning strong.

Some might sing the Beach Boys' "Surfing USA".

But, in Kodiak, there are more kayaks than surf boards on roof racks.
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On somber days

A day like this Sunday, when it rained & drizzled all day,
causes no problem for the people of Kodiak.

Just put on your waterproof jacket, pants, hats, & Extra-Tuff boots,
and go out for a hike.

Walk under the tall trees if you want to avoid rain drops .

And soon you'll reach the ocean's edge.

Look just below the cliffs to see what the waves brought in.

Climb down for a closer look.

And we bet that soon you'll see that 

you are not the only one who is out and about.

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Foggy Saturday

Saturday morning we woke up to a moderately dense fog.

Listened to the protracted owl-like "woooo, woooo" sounds
of wind, blowing through the channel's fog horn,
while chirping small birds could not be seen through the fog.

But about 120 degrees degrees in the opposite direction,
we noticed a raven flying by, and a little blue developing in the skies.

Within 30 minutes it started to clear away.
Blue skies slowly developed, and remained for the rest of the day.

It was like watching a picture develop in the olden days,
the chemicals slowly revealing your picture in the dark-room.
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Not a bad place to come get your mail.

...worth "checking" everyday, even on a holiday like Memorial Day.

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