She was after a crab, though we could not tell this from where we were walking. There are rules about not approaching sea mammals and other wild things so we held back and went about our task gathering trash. In general, we are careful and respect the rules about not disturbing wildlife. We will cut short our walk or take another route rather than spook resting seagulls into the air.

That eagle picked up the crab and dropped it over and over again. (It was the photograph that revealed her prey.) And then finally she succeeded and flew off north, though the nesting pair we have observed for many years lives south of the Cape. This year they were very successful parents with three surviving young.

The rabbits who graze in our yard reveal their mixed domestic/wild genes by allowing us to see them in broad daylight. Before the domesticated rabbits were released, we rarely saw them and the coyotes had nothing to eat. These crosses also sometimes show tiny white spots on their foreheads or a white foot. They are welcome in our yard, though I try to protect the new roses. (The rugosa roses seem to be too prickly to attract bunnies.)

A Steller’s Jay comes by most mornings to see if Gary has put out a treat. I see him swoop cross the yard and into there pine tree, then reappear briefly on a drift log placed at the edge of the mossy grass. Goldfinches were in the tree yesterday morning. In January. The hummers have been through taking what they can find in surviving escalonia blooms. Spring cannot come too soon for the birds.

I have a new warp through the reed and the heddles. I will tie on, wind, adjust tension, and begin weaving tomorrow and the next day. That is the plan.

We have gathered over 70 pounds of trash so far this month. Yesterday, we found our fourth and fifth Bic-style lighter of the year. And this is only January. A lot of plastic foam, including one piece the size of a kitchen sink, but mostly squashed bits. Two huge knots of shattered rope that were awkward to weigh. But mostly bits of plastic and plastic foam the size of postage stamps pried from between basalt stones, plastic twine a few inches long, and bottle caps.