At the crossroads

  

Barnacles following the grooves in the rock.  They like to live along edges!  

P.S.  If you're wondering, the barnacles pictured are primarily Chthamalus dalli.

Still dressed up

  

I present to you — Pelecanus erythrorhynchos!  "Erythro" meaning red and "rhynchos" referring to the bill.  In breeding plumage, you can see where this name comes from.  A small group of about ten American White Pelicans were in Bodega Harbor today (28 April 2021).  They nest at inland lakes and then return to the coast, so these are the first local arrivals after the breeding season (although this is early).  Welcome back!

Pink moon?

 

 

We heard this full moon is sometimes called the "Pink Moon"— not necessarily because the moon is pink, but because Moss Pink (Phlox subulata) flowers at this time.  However, we thought the name was appropriate when viewing this beautiful pink lighting surrounding the moon on our way to do field work around sunrise this morning (27 April 2021).

Said the quail

 

  

"Ahhh...dust baths in soil dug up by a badger are the best!" said the California Quail (Callipepla californica).

 

At ground level

  

Whew, some luck was with me this afternoon and I had some wonderful moments watching a Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata).  I had trouble choosing which photos to share, so here's a selection of my favorites.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruddy or not

  

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) resting at the north end of Bodega Harbor, 20 April 2021.

Blue planet

  

 Happy Earth Day!

Side by side

  

A quick shot of a Red Knot (Calidris canutus) on the left and a Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) on the right feeding along the Bodega Harbor shoreline at the end of the day (20 April 2021).

View from above

   

Calochortus tolmiei  — you might see this species called Pussy Ears, Hairy Star Tulip, or Tolmie's Star Tulip.  This one was photographed in Marin County on 17 April 2021.

Viola purples

  

Hooked-spur Violet (Viola adunca), 17 April 2021

Just barely

 

 

Stepped outside and noticed the moon — just barely! — out to the west.  Photographed from Cotati on 13 April 2021.

Searching

  

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius), 9 April 2021

Pipit and plantains

 

 

 

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) showing some breeding colors — a nice blue-gray above and buffy below.

 

The pipit was foraging among clusters of Seaside Plantain (Plantago maritima) along the bluffs:

 

 

 

Windy with a chance of Bonaparte's

  

Back-to-back days with strong northwest winds in April brings a chance of seeing Bonaparte's Gulls (Chroicocephalus philadelphia).  I spotted this flock out over Bodega Harbor this afternoon (at least 16 individuals, not all in the photo).  I thought they might have been terns at first, but I stopped the car and got out to take a quick photo with my zoom lens and then could see their head and wing markings.

For another example of Bonaparte's Gulls with some closer views, check out the post called "Taiga bound" from 4 May 2015.

Spring winds

  

Spring winds off Bodega Head, 7 April 2021

Hope is the thing

  

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) in Cotati, 6 April 2021

Keen on crevices

  

At the end of our field work yesterday (4 April 2021), Eric snapped a couple of quick photos of these dense Eroded Periwinkle (Littorina keenae) clusters along rock crevices.  

This high intertidal species has been noticeably abundant during the last few years and the snails were packed into narrow crevices (likely gravitating towards cooler and/or moister sites).

 

 

Now that's orange!

  

Not sure which lichen species this is, but it sure was dramatic in the gray overcast light this morning (2 April 2021).  Many thanks to Eric for capturing this orange beauty along the bluffs!

CORRIGENDUM and ADDENDUM (3 April 2021): I heard back from a few NHBH readers and learned that (1) this is *not* a lichen, but an alga (!) and (2) it's likely Trentepohlia aurea.  (3) After further reading, it's also possible that T. aurea is no longer the accepted name for this species and it should be called T. flava instead, but I'll defer to experts.  Thanks so much for the assistance!

String of lights

  

Whew, we've been really busy with field work recently, but here's a cool fish we found washed up on the beach back in February.  Note the beautiful silvery photophores (especially along the gill cover).  What do you think?  Possibly a midshipman (Porichthys sp.)?  Which species?  Any thoughts would be appreciated!