Over the hills

  

 Sunrise over Bodega Harbor, 12 March 2026 

Bat Ray for breakfast?

 

 

River Otter (Lontra canadensis) chewing on a Bat Ray (Myliobatis californica) in Bodega Harbor on 9 March 2026.

 

The wind hadn't picked up yet, so there were some nice views of the otter swimming in shallow water along the shoreline:

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S.  The otter seemed to be having trouble eating the Bat Ray, perhaps due to its thick skin?  Eventually it left the ray behind and moved on.

 

One Mourning in March

More warm air temperatures = more butterfly sightings.  Today (8 March 2026) I was in Cotati and came across a few Mourning Cloaks (Nymphalis antiopa), example above, and a couple of Pipevine Swallowtails (Battus philenor). 

Basking and nectaring

   

Air temperatures reached at least the high 60s in Bodega Bay today (7 March 2026).  I started seeing butterflies zipping by in the morning, so I went out after lunch for a short walk and took a few photos.

California Tortoiseshells (Nymphalis californica) were the most common butterflies I saw today (photo above), but I also noticed quite a few Margined Whites (Pieris marginalis) and at least one Western Pine Elfin (Incisalia eryphon).

Many of the tortoiseshells were nectaring on willow catkins:

 

 

Shadowy Moon

  

Lucky that I looked at the Moon when I did early this morning.  I checked a little bit later to try to see the Moon emerging from the shadow and it was completely fogged in!

This photo is from a little after 3:30 a.m. PST. 

In the drift line

  

I didn't expect to find a Purple Sea Snail (Janthina umbilicata) tonight (2 March 2026), but I also thought there was potential.  Ocean temperatures have been warm this winter and there was a lot of debris washed up on the beach tonight, so I kept the color purple in my search image and I happened to spot one individual.

The last time I recall Janthina being in our area was during the winter of 2024 (see post called "It's been a while" on 21 February 2024.)

It looks like there were several Janthina sightings in San Mateo County and Santa Cruz County in late February, so it's a good time to keep your eyes open for these beautiful pelagic snails.  If you come across one, I'd love to hear about it!

Pearlescent lining?

  

I walked out the door at lunchtime and noticed unusual high clouds right away.  It felt like there was potential for something interesting to appear in the sky, so I brought my camera with me to eat lunch.

Sure enough, within a few minutes, the light started to look interesting off to the side of the sun...some iridescent clouds started to appear! 

Almost five years ago I photographed iridescent clouds for the first time (see post called "Iridescence in the air?" on 7 June 2021), but I wasn't sure when the conditions would be right to see them again.

Here are two more photos.  Note that the colors are more pearlescent and pastel shades, rather than following the colors of the rainbow. 

 

 

 

 

P.S.  Here's a brief description of iridescent clouds from the Cloud Appreciation Society (along with a gallery of other examples).

Silver and gold

  

Two views of a Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) near Spud Point Marina on 20 February 2026.  The late afternoon light was just right for highlighting the iridescent feathers (above).

 

 

Chilly

  

This one's for Mazie — snow to the east looking towards Mount Saint Helena this morning.  Photographed from Stony Point Road on 19 February 2026.  [You can click on the image for a larger version.]

Shades of green

  

This is an older photo, but I came across it the other day and was intrigued.  Common Raven (Corvus corax) nest with two eggs photographed on Bodega Head on 14 May 2016. 

Sleeping in the sun

  

It was another warm day, with temperatures reaching ~65°F on the coast today (3 February 2026).  I was checking on a few different things and was seeing quite a bit of insect activity (butterflies, bumblebees, and flies).  There was a nice breeze and it felt like one of those days when it would feel nice to take a nap in the sun, and then I happened upon a badger...sleeping in the sun!

The badger looked up for a moment, and looked pretty sleepy:

 

 

And then it nestled down for a nap.  

 

I walked quietly in a wide circle so as not to disturb the badger and took one more photo showing the badger lying in the grass next to its burrow:

 

 

 

Any sighting of a badger feels special, but I especially enjoyed this view of one at rest, with the sunshine on its back and the breeze blowing across its fur.

West Coast from above and below

  

Air temperatures reached a balmy 65-70°F in Cotati yesterday (1 February 2026).  I took a quick look for butterflies in the afternoon.  Here's a West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella) from above (above) and from below (below).  :)

 

 

Otter flow

  

River Otter in Bodega Harbor, 29 January 2026.  

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

 

Green on the horizon

  

Wasn't sure if we'd see one tonight, but there it was, glowing green on the horizon.  Photographed from Bodega Head on 28 January 2026.  [You can click on the image for a slightly better version of the photo.]

A little orange cup

  

I've been working on some photo organization, but here's a little Orange Cup Coral for you — Balanophyllia elegans, photographed in Bodega Harbor.

Every one is different

  

Sunset from Bodega Head, 21 January 2026
 

Plume de mer?

  

Close-up of the gill plume of the nudibranch sometimes known as a Sea Lemon (Peltodoris nobilis).  Note the extensive branching to increase surface area for respiration.

Evidence suggests that nudibranchs evolved from gastropod ancestors that lost their coiled shell and original internal gills.  Dorid nudibranchs like this one secondarily evolved an external gill plume for respiration.
 

Hidden talent

  

Eric was doing some field work tonight (17 January 2026), but on the side he ended up with several great shots of an intriguing Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens).  

Above, note how well the octopus blends in with the background, matching the surrounding colors and textures. 

Below, a closer view from the side next to the sea anemone:

 

 

 

And a zoomed in view, highlighting that beautiful eye:

 

 

 

 

When the octopus changed position, it changed color and texture, this time matching some of the surrounding seaweeds and nearby animals.  And check out how it matched the color of the sponge in the upper right corner of the photo — the suckers are the same deep orange color as the sponge!

 

 

 

P.S.  With thanks to the octopus and to Eric for the great photos! 

The hunter at dusk

 

 

Leaving work just after sunset tonight (15 January 2026), I caught a glimpse of a Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) bounding across the road.  I pulled over to see if it would appear again, and it did.  In fact, it kept running back and forth from one side of the road to the other.  It was getting dark, so a photo was difficult, but I kept watching because the weasel was so active:

 

 

 

And then I saw another flash and I realized that another animal was involved.  The weasel was chasing a Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani).

 

The next sequence was amazing -- the rabbit would dash out from the bushes and start running down the road, and then the weasel would appear and start to chase after the rabbit.  This happened at least 4-6 times!  Here's a sample:

 

 

 

I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but in the end, the weasel ended up capturing the rabbit!  I've never seen a weasel subdue prey before.  It felt like it took longer, but according to my camera time stamps, the weasel subdued the rabbit in about 1 minute:

 

 

 

Wow!

Spindrift and light

  

10-foot swell + 15-second wave period + an offshore breeze = a setup for spindrift! 

A few wave photos from this morning (12 January 2026).

 

 

 

 

 

We bid you goodnight

  

Sunset from Bodega Head, 10 January 2026
 

Morning sun

  

Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) and a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) enjoying the morning sun in Santa Rosa today (6 January 2026).  [You can click on the image for a larger version.]

Shuttle service

 

 

We were working along the Bodega Harbor shoreline a couple of days ago when I noticed some movement out of the corner of my eye.  

Octopus!  

It was very high above the waterline, so Eric decided to pick it up and help it get closer to the water.

Two more views, including a close-up of the eye: 

 

I know most of 2026 is the Year of the Horse, but wouldn't it be fun if there was a Year of the Octopus?