Maroon cab

  

Juvenile Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) from the intertidal zone along the Sonoma Coast on 30 November 2024.  This individual was pretty small, only ~3.5 inches (~9 cm) long.  I loved the deep red color of this one!

In the lee

 

 

Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) on the left, and Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) on the right, at Point Reyes on 29 November 2024.

Frosty moon and fall dragon

  

Started the day with frost and morning fog and a beautiful crescent moon...

...and in the afternoon we noticed a Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) sunning in our backyard.  In Cotati, air temperatures reached the 60-65°F range today (28 November 2024).

 

 

Resting

  

Whew, it's been a busy time!  We've just finished Day 40 of a big project, so don't be surprised if you see us looking something like this Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) during the next few days.

Thank you so much for tuning in to the Natural History of Bodega Head.  I am so grateful for your thoughtful comments and questions and observations throughout the year!

Clouds after the storm

  

 Some cloud photos for you from 23 November 2024. 

 

 

 

 

Storm birds

  

During a break in the rain this afternoon (22 November 2024), I noticed a couple of Red Phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicarius) at the north end of Bodega Harbor — blown in from offshore by the recent storm.

 

 

 

 

Frog weather

 

 

I'm running out of time tonight, but here's a couple of quick photos of a beautiful Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii) that we came across in the road tonight.  It's certainly been good weather for frogs!

 

 

 

I hope everyone is staying safe during these storms!

Twilight

  

"Like the twilight at the end of the day" 

(Tedeschi Trucks Band)

A single rose

  

We haven't heard of too many Hopkins' Rose Nudibranch (Ceratodoris rosacea) observations recently, so kudos to Sam for spotting this individual today (13 November 2024).  And thanks to Eric for the great photo!  If you come across this species, we'd love to hear about your sightings.

Looking west

  

Looking west from Bodega Head on 12 November 2024

Watchful

 

 

Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii), Bodega Bay, 7 November 2024

Lunar reflection

 

 

Moonset with reflection.  

 

Over Bodega Harbor on 6 November 2024.

Eventide

  

From Bodega Head after sunset on 5 November 2024

In the western sky

  

Crescent moon in the western sky on 4 November 2024.

Tool chest?

  

We had to do some field work in Monterey County yesterday, but we arrived a little early, so had a few minutes to observe a few sea otters while eating lunch in Pacific Grove.  

The first sea otters we saw were actively munching on sea urchins -- above, and next two photos:

 

 

 

But then our attention was drawn to a hard slapping sound, and we turned to see an otter trying to crack open a large mussel against a rock that was balanced on the otter's chest:

 

 

 

Several times we watched this otter dive down, bring up a rock and a mussel (or clump of mussels)...and then use the rock like an anvil -- hammering the mussel against the rock.

 

Sea otters are known to do this, but I hadn't photographed it before, so here are a few more images.  (Tool-use by mammals aside from humans is rare.)  In each picture, look for a rock resting on the otter's chest and a mussel between the otter's paws.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were reading up on this behavior at the end of the day and came across an interesting research paper about tool use by sea otters just published in May 2024.

 

It turns out that using rocks as tools to access hard-shelled prey might be especially important for female otters in areas where their preferred and easier-to-process prey (e.g., abalone and urchins) aren't as common.  And using the rocks to open hard-shelled prey can prevent tooth damage and give the otters access to an alternative food source that otherwise wouldn't be available by biting alone.

Law et al. 2024. Tool use increases mechanical foraging success and tooth health in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis).  Science 384: 798-802.