One Mourning in March

More warm air temperatures = more butterfly sightings.  Today (8 March 2026) I was in Cotati and came across a few Mourning Cloaks (Nymphalis antiopa), example above, and a couple of Pipevine Swallowtails (Battus philenor). 

Basking and nectaring

   

Air temperatures reached at least the high 60s in Bodega Bay today (7 March 2026).  I started seeing butterflies zipping by in the morning, so I went out after lunch for a short walk and took a few photos.

California Tortoiseshells (Nymphalis californica) were the most common butterflies I saw today (photo above), but I also noticed quite a few Margined Whites (Pieris marginalis) and at least one Western Pine Elfin (Incisalia eryphon).

Many of the tortoiseshells were nectaring on willow catkins:

 

 

Shadowy Moon

  

Lucky that I looked at the Moon when I did early this morning.  I checked a little bit later to try to see the Moon emerging from the shadow and it was completely fogged in!

This photo is from a little after 3:30 a.m. PST. 

In the drift line

  

I didn't expect to find a Purple Sea Snail (Janthina umbilicata) tonight (2 March 2026), but I also thought there was potential.  Ocean temperatures have been warm this winter and there was a lot of debris washed up on the beach tonight, so I kept the color purple in my search image and I happened to spot one individual.

The last time I recall Janthina being in our area was during the winter of 2024 (see post called "It's been a while" on 21 February 2024.)

It looks like there were several Janthina sightings in San Mateo County and Santa Cruz County in late February, so it's a good time to keep your eyes open for these beautiful pelagic snails.  If you come across one, I'd love to hear about it!

Pearlescent lining?

  

I walked out the door at lunchtime and noticed unusual high clouds right away.  It felt like there was potential for something interesting to appear in the sky, so I brought my camera with me to eat lunch.

Sure enough, within a few minutes, the light started to look interesting off to the side of the sun...some iridescent clouds started to appear! 

Almost five years ago I photographed iridescent clouds for the first time (see post called "Iridescence in the air?" on 7 June 2021), but I wasn't sure when the conditions would be right to see them again.

Here are two more photos.  Note that the colors are more pearlescent and pastel shades, rather than following the colors of the rainbow. 

 

 

 

 

P.S.  Here's a brief description of iridescent clouds from the Cloud Appreciation Society (along with a gallery of other examples).

Silver and gold

  

Two views of a Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) near Spud Point Marina on 20 February 2026.  The late afternoon light was just right for highlighting the iridescent feathers (above).

 

 

Chilly

  

This one's for Mazie — snow to the east looking towards Mount Saint Helena this morning.  Photographed from Stony Point Road on 19 February 2026.  [You can click on the image for a larger version.]