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!