The kelp and the moon

 

 

 

Two photos showing the smoky light in Sonoma County today (1 October 2020).

 

Above, Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) off Bodega Head in the afternoon.

 

Below, the first full moon of October 2020, photographed from Cotati.

 

 

 

 

Thank you

  

Waxing gibbous Moon, photographed from Cotati in smoky skies on 28 September 2020.  Thank you to all of the first responders who are working so hard during this intense wildfire season, and to everyone who has been gathering and sharing information about the fires.  Your efforts to keep us safe and up-to-date are appreciated.

Shark in amber

  

Gordon wrote this afternoon to let me know he and a few other folks from Madrone Audubon had come across a small shark at Doran Beach this morning (9 September 2020).  He took a couple of photos and kindly agreed to let me share them with you.

Not only do these photos document an interesting shark stranding, but they also show the unusual amber light in Bodega Bay and elsewhere today caused by the intense smoke from so many large wildfires.

Salmon Sharks (Lamna ditropis) look very similar to White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), but they have a shorter snout, the white coloration on the underside extends above the pectoral fin (just behind the gills), and there is a double-keel at the base of the tail fin.  I can't quite see that keel in these photos, but the other characteristics look right for Salmon Shark.

During the late summer and fall, we often receive a few reports of stranded juvenile Salmon Sharks.  Sadly, not too long ago it was discovered that these stranded sharks often have a bacterial brain infection that causes meningoencephalitis (which may result in disorientation).

Here's another photo illustrating the size of the shark, with a pair of footprints for scale.  It appears that the shark was only ~4 feet long or so.

 

 

Many thanks to Gordon for sharing this interesting observation and his photos!

Yellowish light

 

There was so much smoke over us today, the ambient light had an eerie yellowish cast all day.  The temperature was quite a bit cooler than originally predicted (similar to when volcanic ash blocking the sun cools air temperatures).  I think the original predictions were for mid-high 90s (°F), but it was in the mid-high 70s (°F) instead. This photo of the sun over Cotati was taken at ~4 p.m. on 8 September 2020.

Hazy skies

 

The Moon through smoke-filled skies on 30 August 2020.  Here's hoping for a clearer view of the full moon on September 1st!

Two nights

Last night (21 August 2020), a crescent moon in a smoky sky:

 

Tonight (22 August 2020), terns on the tidal flats in Bodega Harbor: 

 

 

 

In turn, a group of five Elegant Terns (Thalasseus elegans); next, two Elegant Terns and two Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia); last, close-up of a Caspian Tern with fish (can you help with the fish i.d.?) caught near the Spud Point Marina.

Muted

Wildfire smoke has continued to affect the appearance of landscapes and seascapes in Northern California.  Here's a view of the muted light on the water in Bodega Bay at around 4 p.m. this afternoon (19 November 2018):

 

Sounds like there will finally be some rain on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

 

Smoke over the water

Wildfire smoke and filtered light over the ocean: 

 

View from Bodega Head at around noontime on 13 November 2018.