Two tiny clumps of Scouler’s popcornflower (Plagiobothrys scouleri) are growing at the top of the boat ramp in a crack in the rocks between the Boat Shed and the Tank Shed.  This native plant is tiny, with flowers only a few centimeters wide. I haven’t seen it any where else and I hope the English stonecrop doesn’t invade and push it out.

Today I removed the invasive curly dock (Rumex crispus) from the grassy field to the east of the Desalinator Building.  Hopefully it won’t get a hold here.  Another invasives species I recently discovered is the field pepperwort, peppercress or fieldcress (Lepidium campestre). It is edible, has spicy seeds and in other parts of the world is cultivated. This small plant was found along the walkway to the Energy building and in patches around the tower base. Too bad I can’t taste it here or that the geese don’t eat it.

Wildlife notes

I watched the black oystercatcher pair on the east side of the Jetty hoping to discover if they had a nest. Today was the first time I noticed how blunt their beaks are! They feed in the intertidal zone and their strong blunt beaks are used to dig, pry open, crush or hammer through the shells of marine invertebrates.

Facility work

• cleaned the solar panels
• removed the curly dock from the grassy field
• weed whacked the walkway to the Energy Building

DND

A handful of blasts were seen and heard today. Little disturbance was noted.

Vessels

• ecotourism: 1
• private: 5
• paddleboard: 1

Weather

Clear skies, fog bank distant in the afternoon. Winds light NE in early morning, veering to strong westerlies in the afternoon, increasing to gale force in the early evening. Daytime temperatures: low 10, high 17.