Frosty funnels

  

Frost is rare on Bodega Head, and it feels even more so now than when I first started working here 18 years ago.

But the air temperature reached 32.6°F (0.3°C) this morning (31 January 2023) and there were pockets of frost in low-lying areas.

Cinnamon belly

 

 
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) and lichens, 21 December 2022

Rockscapes

  

A few photos of rocks from along the northern Sonoma coast this past weekend.  Thanks to Eric for his excellent eye and framing some beautiful patterns!

 

 
 

And here's one from me:

 

 

 

One more, from Eric, because the fence lizard matched the rock so nicely:

 

Now that's orange!

  

Not sure which lichen species this is, but it sure was dramatic in the gray overcast light this morning (2 April 2021).  Many thanks to Eric for capturing this orange beauty along the bluffs!

CORRIGENDUM and ADDENDUM (3 April 2021): I heard back from a few NHBH readers and learned that (1) this is *not* a lichen, but an alga (!) and (2) it's likely Trentepohlia aurea.  (3) After further reading, it's also possible that T. aurea is no longer the accepted name for this species and it should be called T. flava instead, but I'll defer to experts.  Thanks so much for the assistance!

Burrowing among the boulders?

 Rocks, lichens, mosses...and an owl!  Can you spot it?

 

 

 

There's a Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) just right of center.  If you're having a hard time spotting it, here's a slightly closer view (below).  [And you can click on the image for a larger version.]

 

 

 

Photographed in Petaluma on 31 January 2021.

Down on the rocks

 

American Pipits (Anthus rubescens) are often seen on sandy beaches in Bodega Bay, but sometimes we encounter them along the rocky outer coast.  Here's one on lichen-covered rocks just above the intertidal zone on 12 January 2019.

Overlooking the Pacific

 

Common Raven and lichen-covered rocks, Bodega Head, 28 December 2016.

Pastels in the fog

 

I took a short walk in the fog today, and snapped a few pictures of lichens along the way.  I'll try again, now that I can see the potential, but I was intrigued enough that I thought I'd share a couple of images.  I was drawn in by the varied shades of pastel colors.  [You can click on the images for larger versions.]

 

Following the grain

 

Lichens on driftwood 

(from the archives, near Salmon Creek Beach, 11 February 2012)

Shakedown cruise

Eric just finished teaching his summer classes, so today we went out for a "shakedown cruise" on Tomales Bay — our first sail of the summer.  We launched from Nick's Cove, sailed up towards Walker Creek, and then crossed over to White Gulch.  Below are some pictorial highlights from the afternoon:

 

Elegant Terns resting on oyster floats.

 

Harbor Seal cruising by our bow.

 

The always attractive Point Reyes shoreline.  Here's one more:

 

 

Adult Black-crowned Night-Heron perched among lichen-draped branches. 

 

Osprey, perhaps wondering if it's going to be able to finish such a large fish!

Jack

I know some people will think I'm crazy, but I'm always excited when there's a chance of seeing frost here.  It's not as common on the coast, but here are a few pictures from several fence posts between Sebastopol and Bodega Bay.

The frost crystals were very long, making these lichens look like miniature trees!

 

The next photo shows a variety of crystals that formed on a small clump of moss.

 

And one more, showing sparkling crystals on a crustose lichen.

 

All of these images were taken in a field next to a stream in a low-lying valley on 19 December 2012.

I think the last time we had snow was in 2005.  I still dream about sledding and snowball fights, but for now I'll thank Jack Frost for providing wonderful views of winter wonderlands.  (Now if only I could shrink down to walk among the tiny crystalline trees!)

Lilliputian

Dune lichens photographed during a light rain on 8 November 2012:

 

 

 

P.S.  There are lots of books on lichens, but I've always enjoyed the title, Forests of Lilliput: The Realm of Mosses and Lichens (by John Bland).

Lichens

I was a little hesitant to post these photos, as I know very little about lichens.  However, I've always been drawn to them — they somehow feel ancient, and have attractive structures and colors.  And perhaps someday someone out there will be able to help identify the species in these images.

Lichens consist of several organisms — a fungus and a photosynthetic partner (alga and/or cynobacteria).  They become more noticeable after rains, expanding and brightening with newly available moisture.  On Bodega Head, lichens can be found on a variety of surfaces including rocks, trees, bones, driftwood, and even rabbit droppings!

Here are a few photos from 21 January.  

 

 

Note the red parts on the species above are reproductive structures where spores are produced.

 

The photo below is from February 2009, but I couldn't help including it, as it's proof of their occurrence on rabbit droppings (for you nonbelievers!).