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.

 

Glowing from within

  

We hope you've been enjoying the fall season.

 Happy Halloween!

Hunter at dusk

  

Well, that's one benefit of working late -- a chance to see Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) on the way home!  

Moon at sunrise

  

A beautiful sunrise yesterday morning (26 October 2024) with pink highlights in the clouds surrounding the moon.

Calm seas and...a flash!

  

While watching the sunset tonight (24 October 2024), it felt like good conditions for a green flash.

Sure enough!  Nice green color as the sun disappeared below the horizon.  Here's a tiny bit of it:

Watching and waiting

  

A young Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) in Bodega Bay on 21 October 2024.  [You can click on the image for a larger version.]

Trio

  

I didn't have a lot of time, but as I was leaving work tonight there was nice light on the shorebirds in Bodega Harbor.  I'm always a fan of pictures that make it easy to compare species, so here's one with three species of sandpipers.  Can you find all three?

Most of them are Sanderlings (Calidris alba) -- there are a dozen of them, the palest of the three species.

On the right side of the photo, in the foreground and background, there are two Dunlin (Calidris alpina) -- they're a little bit larger, with a little bit longer bill, and much browner coloration.  

And the last one?  In the foreground the 4th bird from the left is a Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) -- the smallest of the three species, darker than Sanderlings but lighter than the Dunlin.

From the Oort cloud

  

We lingered at the coast tonight to try to see Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS.  After a beautiful sunset (with Venus, above), we eventually located the comet. We had great views with binoculars, and I tried to take a photo, but I'm afraid I don't have experience photographing comets!  But for the record, here's a view of the comet from Bodega Head on 18 October 2024:

Moon shot

  

I wish I had been able to photograph the rising Moon last night -- it looked so big!  And nice early evening light surrounded it.  But here's a quick shot of the setting Moon this morning (17 October 2024), looking west from Cotati.

A fish sampler?

  

Got lucky and noticed this River Otter (Lontra canadensis) at the north end of Bodega Harbor on my way back from the post office today (14 October 2024).  The otter was having a lot of luck, too -- I saw it catch at least three fish in a very short time!  Above, with a flatfish...

Below, with some sort of gunnel?  (Let me know if you can tell what it is!)

 

 

 

The otter spent most of its time fishing and swimming or resting at the surface:

 

 

 

 

It also came close to shore a few times, shook, and had a look around:

 

 

 

I suppose their long whiskers are helpful for locating fish under water, but sometimes I'm still surprised at their skill and success.

 

Sipping nectar in the backyard

  

Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) butterfly in our backyard in Cotati on 13 October 2024.

October morning

  

Yesterday (10 October 2024) Eric and I made a quick trip to Chatham, Massachusetts, and encountered a nice flock of Forster's Terns (Sterna forsteri).  

The terns flew to a sandbar, spent some time roosting and preening, then some individuals took off and started diving on a school of fish in shallow water.  The autumn light was nice and I don't often get to spend much quality time with Forster's Terns, so here are a few photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a relatively large flock of Forster's Terns, ~250 birds.  I didn't get a photo of the entire flock, but here's one that shows the general scene.  [You can click on any of the images for larger versions.] 

 

 

 

And another showing the view to the south:

 

We left feeling grateful for an October morning on Cape Cod.

Northern lights in New England!

  

Northern lights as seen from Walpole, Massachusetts, on 10 October 2024.  Wow!

Falling for fall

  

A few foliage shots from southern New Hampshire on 9 October 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

Fall in New England!