The dewpoint (and humidity) continue so high that I may as well be a fish. Relief is promised for the weekend, but before that occurs thunderstorms, possible flooding and more humidity must be gotten through. This kind of weather is the reason I dislike summer. Heat without humidity isn’t bad but even a moderate temperature with this kind of humidity makes me feel like a wash cloth that needs to be wrung out.
Around the cabin the gloomy fog doesn’t appear to affect the animals. I see deer and turkeys regularly—no fawns or poults yet. The forest is dense and wet—raingear is needed even when it’s not raining unless I want to be soaked by leaves brushing against me. Several pairs of footwear haven’t been dry in days. I will be glad when the weather breaks as long as the breaking storms aren’t severe. It will be nice to see the sky again, instead of just clouds.
In this part of the world, while the west deals with drought, rainfall is now more than seven inches above normal. More than once I’ve wondered if climate change will push this area into some kind of temperate rain forest habitat. The pattern over the last several years has been for very high humidity and more rainfall than average. Years ago I heard that climate change would make this area feel more like Georgia, but I’ve been to Georgia in the summer and it’s not at all like this. I’ll let you know if I start finding redwoods or Doug firs on the mountain. I still have a ways to go before that happens.
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Amen, Carolyn! Same situation here. I'm trying to complete the last of my annual forest breeding bird censuses, but if I were to go out in the woods like they are now, I would be soaked through after the first listening station. I'm looking forward to completing the census on Saturday or, more likely, Sunday--morning. I'll give the woods a day to dry out before I venture forth.
Many of the hens in our large flock of turkeys have produce sizable clutches of poults, but I wouldn't be surprised if we have absolutely no recruitment of new individuals this year. Several of the hens escorting their offspring have been seeing the chicks picked off one by one until now there seem to be none left with any of the hens. Credit foxes (caught in the act at least once) and a diligent Cooper's Hawk.
My staff hasn't reported fawns, either, but we did pick up a fawn that drowned in a neighbor's koi pond last week, so they must be out there hiding in the scrubby vegetation.
Scott: I'm still seeing turkeys all over the place but no poults yet, at least not out in the open.
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