Eric found this nice juvenile porcelain crab last weekend. Meet the Pubescent Porcelain Crab (Pachycheles pubescens)!
I realized I haven't shown this type of crab on the NHBH before, and there's a more common species (Pachycheles rudis) that I should also introduce, so I'll try to do that at some point, too.
Meanwhile, note the short and very dense hairs on the claws giving this crab a pubescent or fuzzy appearance.
Found in the low intertidal zone among some cobbles.
Another February butterfly for you! Adding to this week's list -- a Satyr Anglewing (Polygonia satyrus) photographed in Cotati on 28 February 2024.
Happy Leap Day tomorrow!
Remarkably, air temperatures reached ~70°F (~21°C) in Bodega Bay on 24 February 2024. I was doing a lot of desk work that day, but while eating lunch we saw quite a few butterflies flying by from north to south. Eventually I went out to identify which species were involved.
It was somewhat hard to tell at first because the butterflies weren't stopping, but with persistence I discovered that the majority were California Tortoiseshells (Nymphalis californica) — see above.
25 February 2024 was also a warm and sunny day, and although we didn't go for a walk until late in the afternoon, Eric and I came across a couple of West Coast Ladies (Vanessa annabella) in Cotati...
...and one Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta):
While doing some errands in Sebastopol this morning, I noticed some movement in a rosemary bush at the edge of a parking lot. Turned out to be a small flock of Lesser Goldfinches (Spinus psaltria) along with a few Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus). They appeared to be eating the rosemary flowers.
Siskins are often perched up high in trees, so it was fun to see them below eye level. Above, two Pine Siskins. (Note the nice yellow feather edges.)
Below, a bright male Lesser Goldfinch.
Sculpin resting among blades of surfgrass (Phyllospadix sp.).
Thanks for the great photo, Eric!
It's been a while (about 6 years!) since we've seen Purple Sea Snails (Janthina umbilicata) in Bodega Bay, but some have appeared on local beaches this week.
The last time we observed large numbers of this species was during the 2014-2016 marine heatwaves (which included a significant El Niño). Smaller numbers also appeared in 2017 and 2018.
Although there is a significant El Niño this winter, we haven't observed too many biological signs of it in Northern California — i.e., in terms of marine invertebrate occurrences — at least not yet.
I don't know if these Janthina observations will be isolated or if we will continue to see them during the next several months.
The post I shared back in 2016 is a good introduction to Purple Sea Snails, so if you're interested in learning more about them you can check that out here.
These snails are pelagic — usually found offshore. They're fragile — they don't live in an environment where they need a thick shell (they float upside down with a bubble raft at the surface of the ocean). And they're small — most of the individuals I saw this morning were ~5 mm long (with some smaller, some larger). The purple color is eye-catching! I'd love to hear if you come across any in Northern California. Watch for them washed up in the wrack line, especially perhaps on south-facing beaches, and after strong southerly or westerly winds.
Recent weather forecasts have included a lot of different things — scattered showers, gusty winds, elevated seas, flood advisories, thunderstorms, water spouts — but I don't think anyone mentioned foam flurries! Strong winds and large waves conspired to launch pieces of foam skyward today (19 February 2024).
Here are a few wave photos, too. Swell heights reached almost 20 feet:
A short story about a hummingbird and her nest. Before the storm on 4 February 2024, I had photographed this Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) on a nest. During the storm, I wondered how she was faring and if the nest would survive the storm. I hadn't had a chance to go back until this past weekend, but here she is on 10 February 2024:
Somewhat surprisingly, while I was walking towards this area I was listening for hummingbirds in case she had moved to a different location when I heard a hummingbird calling and followed it to a different nest location. Then I checked the original site and found that nest intact, too. So here's a second Anna's at a nest:
It was little too dark, but I decided to try anyway...and the photo turned out somewhat interesting. I like how it looks like a painting! Crescent moon before it disappears behind low clouds over the ocean on 10 February 2024.
What do you think — Is this a Kelp Pipefish (Syngnathus californiensis)?
Photographed in Bodega Harbor on 3 February 2024.
A very large egg case, probably from a Big Skate (Raja binoculata), washed up on the beach on 5 February 2024.
Such an interesting design with those long curved ridges. Here are a couple more views:
Thanks to Colin for getting the word out that a Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) was visible from the Lucas Wharf area in Bodega Harbor this morning. I was nearby so went over for a quick look, and Scott was there to point me in the right direction. This is a rare species here, with fewer than a handful of records for Sonoma County.
Here are a few other images for the record. Note the large, pale bill. In the last photo, you can compare the Yellow-billed Loon with several Common Loons. It's a little bit larger and has more of a brownish tone overall.
We were out in the field briefly this past weekend and I encountered two different hermit crabs in these beautiful snail shells — Three-colored Top Snail (Calliostoma tricolor).
The snail is generally a more southern species, with most range descriptions describing their distribution from Santa Cruz south to Baja California, Mexico. Looking online, however, there are quite a few records north of Santa Cruz to at least Bolinas, and one outlier up in Mendocino County (Thanks, Michael!). So for the record, here's an observation from Sonoma County on 26 January 2024.
