Weathered

  

Close-up of weathered driftwood at Point Reyes, 26 December 2025.  With thanks to Eric for the beautiful photo! 

Christmas bow

  

Such dynamic weather today (25 December 2025).  Frequently the conditions were different on either side of our house.  Sun on the east side and rain on the west side led to a bright rainbow this morning.

To owl of you

  

Happy holidays to owl of you!

 

 

The second photo is a Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) photographed in Petaluma at the end of the day today (24 December 2025). 

Drop after drop

  

We went for a short walk in Petaluma this morning (22 December 2025).  One of the plants there had water droplets at the tip of every branch — a field of droplets as far as you could see! 

The shortest day

  

  Happy Solstice!  

(Snowman from last weekend in Massachusetts.) 

Of Light and Air

  

We're back from a trip to visit family in Massachusetts, and we felt very lucky to be there during a beautiful Winslow Homer exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Above, The Blue Boat by Winslow Homer in 1892.

The Of Light and Air: Winslow Homer in Watercolor exhibit runs through 19 January 2026, so if you're in the Boston area and have an interest in Homer's watercolors (as well as a few bonus oil paintings, e.g., The Fog Warning), I recommend trying to get to the MFA!  There are also lots of photos and videos with additional details on the MFA's website (see link above).

On a lark

  

It was a cold and windy day here in Scituate, Massachusetts, but we went for a short walk this afternoon (11 December 2025) and caught up with a small flock of Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris).

I love how the russet tones in their feathers match the colors in the salt marsh at this time of year (above).

We also saw a few Horned Larks in a rocky area and it was fun to see how well they blended in with the rocks...although check out those beautiful golden head and throat markings!

 

 

 

 

 

One more photo, as I always appreciate when you can see a little more of an animal's behavior — in this case, searching for seeds among some of the upper marsh plants:

 

 

  

Star-spangled back

  

Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata), Scituate Harbor, MA, on 9 December 2025.

Here's the entire bird (below). Note the spangled patterning on the back.  The species name — "stellata" — apparently means "set with stars" and refers to this beautiful design in the loon's non-breeding plumage.  [You can click on the images for larger versions.]

 

 

Flashy time of year

 

 

This green flash photo is from last week, but perhaps it'll be a reminder to keep an eye out for green flashes around sunset at this time of year.  (Just don't look at the sun until it's almost entirely below the horizon.)

Find the fish

  

Quick photo of a sculpin in the rocky intertidal zone after field work tonight (5 December 2025).  Amazing how much it looks like the surrounding rock, gravel, and shells.

Sunset watcher

 

 

The sunset was quite something tonight (2 December 2025), and we weren't the only ones watching!

 

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) perched on top of a CODAR antenna that monitors ocean currents.

 

And here's a close-up of the owl in silhouette against that purple sky: 

 

 

 

December dragon

  

Air temperatures reached the mid-high 50's today, but the afternoon sun was warm enough to activate this dragonfly.  It zipped into our backyard and landed on one of the remaining hot peppers in the garden.

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) photographed in Cotati on 1 December 2025.  

With many thanks to Eric for the great photo!

Holiday paws

  

Nice set of River Otter (Lontra canadensis) tracks in soft sand at Point Reyes today (28 November 2025). 

Fall colors

  

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) in Cotati on 26 November 2025.  

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Elusive

  

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) perched on a post near Spud Point Marina on 20 November 2025.  

I've probably mentioned this before, but good kingfisher photos have been elusive for me (over many years of trying!).  Kingfishers seem hyper-aware, and even when I think I'm hidden behind a tree or next to another object, they take off before I can get close enough for a decent shot.

This photo finally feels a bit more satisfying.  I hope to do better some day, but I like how you can see some of the feather details, including white spots and highlights on various types of feathers.  [Click on the image for a larger version and scan around to see what you can see!]

Morning view

  

Stopped briefly on the way to work this morning (20 November 2025) to photograph a couple of Red Phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicarius).  They were feeding along Westshore Road near a raft of sea lettuce (Ulva sp.) 

 

  

 

 

Shoreline swimmer

  

Brief view of a River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in Bodega Harbor this morning (17 November 2025).

Watch your speed

  

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) perched along Westshore Road in Bodega Bay on 11 November 2025.

P.S.  Did you know that Belted Kingfishers can fly up to speeds of 25 mph (40 kmh)?  (Some sources say they might be able to reach speeds of up to 36 mph (58 kmh)...1 mph faster than this local speed limit!) 

Painting the clouds

  

Beautiful cloud patterns at sunset on 10 November 2025.

[You can click on the image for a larger version.] 

Sunbathing

 

 

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) sunbathing in our garden today (9 November 2025), with wing and tail feathers spread wide.

The hummingbird was perched on a tomato cage in a sunny corner.  Also fun to see a little hummingbird shadow near the base of the fence:
 

 

 

 

Eastern sky

  

Sunrise from Cotati on 4 November 2025 

(You can click on the image for a larger version.) 

Western sky

  

Ocean view from Bodega Head near sunset on 14 October 2025. 

May the gourds be with you

  

 From our pumpkins to yours -- Happy Halloween, everyone!  

Among the roots

  

Quick photo of a large Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) on Bodega Head today, 27 October 2025.  Although we only received ~0.2 inches total of rain this weekend, it was pretty nice salamander weather with consistent moisture for a couple of days.

W(elk)ome to West County?

  

Driving to the coast the other day (20 October 2025), I was a little surprised to see a large Elk (Cervus canadensis) fairly close to the side of the road.  We pulled over to take a photo for the record.

I had a vague recollection that an elk had been spotted in western Sonoma County before, so I contacted Brock at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center for an update.  He confirmed that a male Elk has been observed off and on in this area for 6-7 years now.  (It also looks like it's possible a few others have been spotted in West County.)

With many thanks to Brock for keeping track of and confirming some of the local elk history!

Morning pairing

  

Waning crescent Moon on the left and a bright Venus on the right.  Photographed from Cotati in the early morning of 19 October 2025.

And here's a close-up of the Moon:

 

 

Berry gathering

  

Heard some Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) calling in the parking lot at Oliver's and looked up to see a large flock feeding on berries.  

There was a mix of juveniles (above) and adults (below):

 

 

Other species were attracted to the activity, too.  Here's a Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana): 

 

 

Morning swim

  

Nice view of a River Otter along the shoreline of Bodega Harbor this morning (15 October 2025).

When the otter dove, it was calm enough to see bubbles trailing at the surface, offering hints of its route under water: 

 

 

P.S.  We wondered about the origin of the bubbles.  Sounds like air trapped in the otter's fur might be released as it swims.
 

A little rain, a lot of color

  

An amazing rainbow between Bloomfield and Valley Ford this morning (14 October 2025).

This was a full rainbow, but I could only get photos of either end.  

Above is the east end, below is the view to the west:

 

 

So bright! 

A little rain, a little color

  

A rainbow appeared briefly to the east when we got home from work tonight (13 October 2025).  

Looks like we received ~0.5 inch of rain in Bodega Bay today.  

Lift off

  

Humpback Whales off Bodega Head this morning (10 October 2025).

Here's a view of the splashdown after the breach:

 

 

It's been an amazing summer and fall for seeing Humpbacks off Bodega Head.  Whales were visible across the entire horizon today, both close to shore (within 1 mile) and far offshore.

 

A few more views, showing a dorsal fin, flukes, and spouts: