Blue moon over San Juan Island

December 31, 2009:

"A Blue Moon Over San Juan Island On New Year’s Eve"

It last happen in 1971, but this New Year’s Eve there will be a blue moon over San Juan County

It last happen in 1971, but this New Year’s Eve there will be a blue moon over San Juan County (well, and everywhere else too, but so what?). While everyone has heard the phrase “once in a blue mood,” not too many have a clue as to what the heck IS a blue moon, anyway?

Kind of disappointing really. While it is possible for it to have a blueist appearance (but then late on a New Year’s night a lot of people see things that are not really there, and in particular in China or L.A.. where there is a smog problem ), no, it really is just another full moon within one month.

That’s it, not one full moon, but two.
The moon could care less what a month is, and since our calendar is a close approximation of moon cycles, sometimes there is a little over lapping.

In any case, it is rare to have a blue moon, and of course even rarer to have one on New Years eve. --

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Transient Orca Whales December 23

Transient Orca Whales were seen yesterday south of Victoria BC near Race Rocks.
Today We have a sunny, 39 degree day for Christmas Eve. There are a few boats scooting about in Friday Harbor.

Have a Wonder-Filled Holiday!

Colleen and Bill


Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Birding San Juan Island and Beyond

The Bird Count December 19 went off without a hitch. My yard did not produce much. House finch, Juncos, Crows. The Buffleheads, Flicker, Bald Eagle, Snipe where no where to be seen.

Here are some links to local birding locations near the San Juan Islands:

The Skagit Valley is a bird-watcher’s dream in winter, when thousands of snow geese, swans and eagles stop here.

There are a number of good bird-watching locations, including the fields of Fir Island, Wiley Slough and Bay View State Park. Farther east are an abundance of eagles, dining on salmon around Marblemount and Rockport.

For more information about migratory birds in Skagit County, check these sites:

http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=59

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/snow_goose/

http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=54

http://www.skagiteagle.org/IC/IC EagleCount.htm

http://skagiteaglewatchers.wordpress.com/

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Resident Orca Whales Visiting December 19, 2009

This December, orca whales (some were transient, some resident) were spotted on the southwestern side of San Juan Island December 1, 4, 10, 11 and 13.
They were also sighted near Victoria BC December 2, 7 and 10.


Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Orca Whales and Rescue Tugs

OLYMPIA – The state-funded emergency response tug stationed at Neah Bay was ready to respond to the aid of a 500-foot chemical tanker that lost power Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, off of the Washington coast.


http://olyopen.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/rescue-tug-called-on-to-assist-disabled-tanker-123/
This is why Puget Sound needs the year-round rescue tug.


Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

San Juan Island Bird Count

Saturday December 19

Coordinators:
San Juan Island - Barb Jensen 378-3068

Orcas - Kim Middleton - 317-5605

Lopez - Bob Myhr 468-5882

San Juan Islands Bird Count

For those of you on San Juan Island we are meeting after the count at 5pm at the Ale House for our wrap up. It is a wonderful time to meet the other folks and talk about our day.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©