Bladerunner?

  

A nice view of a small, but fancy nudibranch — Diaphoreolis lagunae (formerly Cuthona lagunae) on a blade of surfgrass (Phyllospadix sp.).  This individual was ~10 mm long.  Photographed on 22 June 2024.

Summertime

  

I've been behind a desk a lot lately, so here's a photo from last month -- a beautiful Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) perched in our backyard on 27 May 2024.  The grayish eyes on this individual probably indicate a younger male.

At least some species of dragonflies can be observed across a broad portion of the year in Sonoma County, but along the coast I think of summer as prime time to watch for them.

Happy Summer Solstice!  :)

18!

  

Okay, how many arms on the Six-armed Sea Star above? 

And how many arms on this greenish Six-armed Sea Star? 

And how many arms on this Six-armed Sea Star that's having a tube foot party?

Add then all together -- how many arms total on all three of these Six-armed Sea Stars?

Yes!  18!  (Okay, most of you know I'm a Boston sports fan...and I can't help but post a big congratulations to the Boston Celtics for winning the 2024 Championship and their 18th Championship Banner!  That was an amazing season, Celtics!  Woohoo!)

Skyward

 

 

A blowhole sending spray skyward in Mendocino County on 9 June 2024

Role model?

  

Two Henricia pumila sea stars in a shallow pool in the low intertidal zone.  The one on the left is likely older than the one on the right, but growth rates in juvenile sea stars are highly variable, so it's hard to say for sure without knowing more about these individuals.  Photographed in Mendocino County on 9 June 2024.

Local colors

Okay, I know this might seem like an unusual photo for the NHBH, but I couldn’t resist…and there’s a natural history connection!  We worked in Mendocino County today, conducting intertidal surveys during the early morning low tide.  But in the afternoon we made a few stops in Fort Bragg and Mendocino, including the Mendocino Art Center.  There’s a fun exhibit about kelp there, and a bonus was this amazing exhibit about dyes made from local mushrooms.  

I’m new to this world, but the dyed-wool examples above were made with different species of mushrooms.  The exhibit is about the collaboration between Dorothy Beebee (illustrator) and Miriam C. Rice (dye pioneer).  It showcases fabrics made with local dyes (including mushrooms collected from Mendocino County) and others on loan from the International Mushroom Dye Institute.  

I haven’t been able to check it out yet, but a documentary film called Try It and See: The Story Behind Mushroom Dyes will be available at www.mushroomsforcolor.com and www.myramadecolor.com.

Such a beautiful earth-toned color palette!

Ready for the season

  

Wow, what a beautiful Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) in breeding plumage.  Photographed at the north end of Bodega Harbor on 6 June 2024.

Always watchful

  

It's been busy lately, but here's a quick shot of a Northern Harrier from Bodega Head earlier in the spring.

When looking down is looking up

  

Close-up of Calochortus tolmiei, photographed along the northern Sonoma County coast on 26 May 2024.  This beautiful wildflower is also called Pussy Ears, Hairy Star Tulip, or Tolmie's Star Tulip.

These flowers are low to the ground, but the closer you get, the more details you see, the more inspiring they are!