Morning sky

  

Such interesting clouds yesterday!  

Morning view from Cotati on 22 July 2026.

Sea star art

  

Close-up of the upper surface of a Bat Star (Patiria miniata).  Those are papulae (in purple) among clusters of spines (in pink).  (Papulae are finger-like projections for gas exchange). 

Red sky at night...

 

 

...sailor's delight.  

 

A saying that certainly held true last night and today! 

 

Sunset from Cotati on 11 July 2026. 

 

Anchovies and a rock

  

I was at the Spud Point Marina docks briefly this afternoon and noticed lots of schools of what look to be young Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax).  [Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!]

Also came across a nice juvenile rockfish (Sebastes sp.).  It was only ~4 cm (1.5 inches) long:

 

 

Seeing lavender

 

Sea Lavender (Limonium californicum) flowers, 7 July 2026

A festive fourth

  

Red Sea Urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) from Mendocino County in late May 2026.

 Happy Fourth of July!