Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Another meteor shower drops by this week, the Leonids. It may be difficult to view due to the bright new moon rising on Monday, November 16. They will continue throughout the week, and are described as "fast, bright, showy, meteors."
Popping sounds over Tomales Bay on Sunday morning were the sound of duck hunting season—scaups—in particular. An area of the bay, roughly north of Drakes View Drive and south of Inverness is state hunting land, accessed only by boat, where duck hunting occurs.
Freshwater otters have gradually been moving back into historic territories along Lagunitas Creek. Boaters enjoying the exceptionally high tides at White House Pool were startled by a group of three! They are regularly seen at Abbotts Lagoon in the sand dunes.
A permit has been issued for a commercial film shoot for children's clothing at Drake Beach for this Tuesday and Wednesday. No parking congestion anticipated.
CORRECTION: Bear Valley Visitor Center will be open holiday hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on this Wednesday, November 11th, Veterans Day—both the Lighthouse and Drakes Beach Visitor Centers will be closed. There will be a local observance of Veterans Day at the Olema Cemetery on Highway 1 at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
New artwork at the Bear Valley Visitor Center is black and white national park photographs by Perry Scholnick.
Brown Bag Luncheon series on November 19 at 12 noon is "Differing roles of invaders within introduced and native communities" with staff from the Bodega Marine Lab; free and open to the public at the Red Barn Classroom at park headquarters.
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Friday, October 30, 2009
Subject: Oil spill in SF Bay
The vessel tanker Dubai Star of Panama was refueling from a barge and began losing bunker oil into the SF Bay this morning around 2 miles south of the Bay Bridge. The spill has formed a slick around 1.5 miles long and initially the oil went 4 miles south , in the middle of the Bay, but now is going north with the out-going tide, and may be pushed east by the wind, toward Oakland, Alameda, and Bayfarm Island. There are some eelgrass beds there, and San Leandro Bay has nice marshes. Presently there are no reports of oiled wildlife, and the skimmers are picking up the slick under calm weather conditions.
Currently OSPR and US Coast Guard are responding to the spill with helicopter and boat recon.
In spill events in the past that occurred in SF Bay, including the Cosco Busan, oil eventually is drawn out of SF Bay by tides and currents and drifts north to Point Reyes. Over the next couple of days, we will monitor the spill movements and see if oiled wildlife or oil lands on Point Reyes Beaches.
If you do find oil or oiled wildlife, call dispatch 415-464-5170 and/or directly to Marin OES 415-499-6584.
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Friday, October 30, 2009
A full moon—the Sassafras Moon for Choctaw people of the eastern states (a good time to harvest the aromatic bark of the tree)—beams across Tuesday night, November 3, with extreme high tides in the mid-morning. Another meteor shower, the Taurid shower streaks across the sky the week of November 5th, but is harder to see due to the waning moon.
Draping sprays of scarlet madrone tree berries are providing some last minute nourishment for birds along Limantour Road and at Kule Loklo. The trees are easy to recognize for its bark which curls off the trunk in thin sheets.
Northern Elephant Seals have been seen on the outer Chimney Rock beaches. Typically, seals return to the beach where they were born, so what we are seeing are the younger seals. None of the 'big boy' dominant males or females are here yet, but the kids are back! The larger males begin to trickle in by mid-December to establish territories.
The planned prescribed burns for this fall have been cancelled due to the early rain. The combination of heat and damp can create damaging steam for seeds.
Those 308 steps and two ramps to the Lighthouse reopened yesterday with a new chain link fence in place!
Park visitor centers will be open Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Holiday; holiday hours at Bear Valley 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and regular hours at Drakes Beach 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the Lighthouse 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Saturday, October 17, 2009
Orion, the hunter constellation, lends its name to the meteor shower peaking this Wednesday, October 21. Look for bright, fast "stars" streaking away from Orion in the southern sky throughout the week in the early morning hours. Mid-day high tides continue throughout the upcoming week.
A regular sighting at Bear Valley is a young Black-tailed doe who limps on her rear left leg due to a congenital condition. She has twin fawns this year that she brings down to the oak trees for last minute fattening on acorns.
Winter conventioneers: A Great Blue heron and 8 turkey vultures on the fence posts at the top of Schooner Bay across from the Coast Guard station turn off. Lots of flapping and squawking last Thursday but everyone got their own post.
Annual reminder from the trail crew as storm season begins: if you encounter a downed tree, please bring this information to park staff/visitor center: location where you encountered the tree; size around of the trunk; type of tree; whether the tree is blocking the trail for people and horses; whether a person can get around but not a horse. This information helps them respond to the tree more efficiently.
The 308 steps and two ramps down to the historic lighthouse are closed this upcoming week Monday–Friday October 19–23 so that the protective chain link fencing can be replaced. The observation desk is accessible as usual during the week and the Lighthouse Visitor center will be open regular days of Thursday through Monday.
The Brown Bag Lunch series continues on Thursday, October 22 with "Tracking the Crab Population connectivity along the California Coast." The talk begins at 12 noon in the Red Barn Classroom at Park Headquarters and is free and open to the public.
No tricks, just treats: Marin County Open Space rangers lead a hike on the Estero Trail on Saturday, October 31. Meets 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to look for owls roosting in the old Christmas tree farm along the trail!
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