To keep your mind off the news, here are three beautiful birds photographed recently by Sara Bogard at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands bluffs. First, a Western Bluebird.
Then a Western Meadowlark perched on a post for Sara.
And finally this handsome Surf Scoter.
So, if you are troubled by today's events, think of these birds who are thriving.
Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Fog blankets the ocean, but Gualala was sunny today. Changes to come!
Wild Ginger, Asarum caudatum, is blooming now on the Mendonoma coast. Mary Hunter photographed an early bloomer in mid-February. Isn't the flower incredible?
It's the heart-shaped leaves that give this native wildflower its common name - they smell of ginger. Look for Wild Ginger in shaded forest floors and it's evergreen.
Thanks to Mary for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Another sunny day in paradise, though we may get some colder and wet weather coming in Saturday night. Bring it, Mother Nature!
Karen Wilkinson spotted Bottlenose Dolphins several weeks ago. She enjoyed watching them surf the waves.
Bill Keener of Golden Gate Cetacean Research took a look at Karen's photos. Bill wrote, “This was a tough bunch because most of the dolphins were unknown to me. I am sending them on to other researchers in Monterey Bay to see if they know them. However, the first dolphin was easily recognizable as Sakura, a female. You have seen Sakura before on August 19, 2018 at Sea Ranch. She was with Bliss in that group, but Bliss did not appear in the group from February 1.”
Below is a photo Karen took of Sakura in 2018 with her newborn calf just to her right.
Bottlenose Dolphins are identified by the notches in their dorsal fins. They have extended their territory northward and we are seeing more them off our coast. As Karen knows, they are so much fun to watch. And it’s interesting that Sakura was seen in a different pod. There is a lot to learn about them in the days ahead.
Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Back to incredible balmy weather today. News flash! A few Gray Whale mother/calf pairs have swum by our shores in the past few days, very early this year. Hundreds of adult Grays swam by this past week headed back to their feeding grounds in the Arctic.
Laura Baker wrote, "I was out looking under logs up here in Annapolis and had a wonderful experience. I found a Speckled Black Salamander, a first for me. Later in the day I found a Wandering Salamander, also a first.”
Here's Speckled Black Salamander, Anedies flauvipunctatus. Its Scientific name sounds like an incantation from Harry Potter!
And here is the Wandering Salamander, Aneides vacrans.
Here's a look at this salamander's long, squared-off toes.
These are climbing salamanders and have prehensile tails. Wandering Salamanders often are found high in the canopy of old-growth trees, where they can live for the entire lives. The Gualala River watershed is the southernmost limit of their range.
Thanks to Laura for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
We received .25 inches of rain yesterday, the first in over a month. We have more in our forecast. Today I can see showers out on the horizon and the Pacific Ocean has big swells.
Bob Van Syoc noticed this small Star in a tide pool off of The Sea Ranch, a Rainbow Star.
Marilyn Green reported on the sighting. She wrote, "Amy and Bob counted hundreds of Abalones at low tide, including some small ones. All were very close to shore. We also saw many types of Sea Stars. There was one that Bob had never seen at Pebble Beach before!” Bob photographed a Rainbow Sea Star, which measures about four inches across. This is the first sighting of this Star that I've had in the 15 years I've been writing my nature column!
Thanks to Bob for allowing me to share his photo with you here and to Marilyn for sending in the sightings.
Our warm, dry weather is in the rear view window. Rain - actual wet stuff! - is predicted to later tonight into tomorrow. Hooray!