Kamana 2 Begins...

So I've been itching to get started on Kamana 2 ever since the family and I moved back to Washington state, but I also started a new job when I returned and that really consumed a lot of my time...I know...excuses, excuses. Suffice it to say, I am now committed to getting Kamana 2 underway and completed by January of 2014.

I had explored a few areas where I was hoping to establish a sit spot for this core routine, but ultimately never settled into a good consistent schedule.  I had been consistently visiting one particular area that called to me as the "right area", given the diversity of habitat and animal sign I have encountered over the last 2 years including: coyote/fox scat, deer tracks, rabbit scat, shrew and mole activity...as well as some great songbird activity. For Kamana 2, I needed to commit to a spot, so I decided that this area would be the right one. Over the last few days,  I have been establishing a consistent morning routine of sitting, and given the chance I have also tried to return in the evening on my way home from work.  The area I go to is not technically "open" during some of the times I have accessed it, but its given me a good opportunity to foxwalk in to my anchor point to limit my presence in the area.

I love this spot during the day, but I have to admit that I am still overcoming my fears of being there in the darkness.  In the dark, you are acutely aware of every noise around you...so until I get to know the noises of this spot, I think I will remain on edge. Over time, I know that I will build a comfort with this spot under the large Western Red Cedar, as I had grown accustomed to my sit spot in Ohio.

Summary of today

Morning Sit
Arrival: 0645; Departure: 0745

Major activity: smaller birds making short "chip" calls (juncos, sparrows, robins); Eastern gray squirrels eating big leaf maple seeds to the south of my anchor point; Several Steller's Jays (up to 3) making alarm calls off and on just west of my spot in a forest edge that leads to marshier terrain.
Learnings: I will definitely pay attention to the area where I heard the Stellar Jays, as this seemed to be the highest "alarm activity" area. I need to explore this area in the day time, to understand what is really back there.

Evening Sit
Arrival: 1745; Departure: 1845

Major Activity: Identified the sound of chickadees,juncos and several calls I did not recognize.  Highlight was getting an exploratory fly over by an owl on my way out. Could not identify due to the darkness, but got a good look at its silhouette. Consulted a field guide and internet photos at home and my hypothesis is that it was a Barred Owl. This owl did 4-5 figure eights over my head as if he wanted to get a good look at who/what the heck I was before flying off to the west. It was a bit disconcerting while it was happening, but afterwards (when I caught my breath), I let the excitement sink in. When foxwalking out I heard a loud screech that scared the cr@p out of me. Awesome night:)
Learnings: Maybe the owl activity and the Stellar Jay alarms could be related; I will pay more attention to this in the coming days.

With thankfulness and appreciation,
Greg (aka J.A.A.N)