Tag Archives: Mel Smith

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Mel Smith was out photographing a rather rare sight. He wrote, “Here is the new Moon and the planet Mercury on the 26th of June 2025.”

Mercury is often difficult to spot because it's close to the sun. It's still a little hard to spot it in Mel's photo - look to the left of the Moon. If you click on the photo, you will easily see Mercury. Mercury was relatively high in the evening sky when Mel got his photo.

Thanks to Mel for allowing me to share his photo with you here!

Foggy this morning and sunny this afternoon, temps in the high 70's.

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I love the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. With all the rain, there is this beautiful waterfall to find as Mel Smith photographed. Hint: It's closer to the north end.

Mel noticed some cracking, some erosion on the southern end of the Lands. He brought his camera and young granddaughter to observe what was going on. A new blowhole has been born! Here in the link to Mel's video:

New blowhole at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands by Mel Smith

Amazing! Thanks to Mel for allowing me to share his photo and video with you here.

Lots of overhead clouds have poured in this afternoon but no predicted rain. Temps in the high 50's.

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On Sunday Mel Smith found this Monarch nectaring on a butterfly bush in Point Arena.

And Chris Pechal found two Monarchs at The Sea Ranch. In the photo on the left, you can tell it's a male Monarch because of the two black dots on its lower wings. He is nectaring on thistle. In the other photo, the beautiful Monarch is nectaring on Coyote Bush.

These Monarchs come to the coast to feed before their journey to their overwintering sites. They live approximately seven months, and are called the Methuselah generation. We hope to see many more Monarchs in the days ahead.

Thanks to Mel and Chris for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Warm today - no fog at all. It's a spectacular autumn day!

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Mel Smith saw this Bobcat near his home in Point Arena. He took the photo with his phone through a spotting scope.

Bobcats are often seen in the daylight hours here on the Mendonoma Coast. They are supposed to be nocturnal but perhaps they have evolved. I receive many sightings of Bobcats during the day.

Thanks to Mel for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

It's a beautiful autumn day here, mid-sixties, with no wind. We've had 1.60 inches of rain so far. Mushroomers are wondering if this is enough rain to get the boletus edulis, the porcini, going in the days ahead, but that's an unknown at this point.

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Mel Smith and Linda Bostwick are grandparents! Yes, the Ensatina Salamander eggs hatched in their water meter box in Point Arena.

Gary Nafis of californiaherps.com took a look at Mel’s photo. He wrote, “Look at all those cute little babies!” I asked Gary what to expect next. He wrote, “The young will probably stay there with the mother until it rains enough for the ground to be saturated as long as they don't have too much trouble climbing up the sides of the meter box. Maybe Linda and Mel can check back to find out.”

We think there are about one dozen little salamanders in the water meter box. And Linda and Mel will keep checking on them.

It's sunny and warm this afternoon with no wind. But the leading edge of the storm, the first clouds, are flowing in from the north. We have a chance for an early rainstorm tomorrow, and what a blessing that would be!