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Wednesday, May 20, 2009 The new moon rising over the holiday weekend continues the annual pattern of spring daylight low tides:
Three snowy plover nests are currently being observed with high hopes for success! No reports have been received for park beaches on any dead cormorants though they have been appearing to the south in Golden Gate NRA. Speculation on the cause of deaths is related to possible lack of ocean food due to temperature changes and large scale wind storms. The freshwater otters who appear to be residents at Abbots Lagoon are being sighted on a regular basis from the trail. The local population is believed to have originated in Estero Americano and has been moving south up the Lagunitas Creek watershed and overland to the lagoon, plentiful fish and frogs to keep them well fed. Velella velella or "By the Wind Sailors" are making their annual appearances on Drakes and Limantour Beaches; the dried bodies of these hydroids look like heaps of cellophane in the wrack line on beaches. The blue bodies are eaten by various birds and they do not sting. The shifting spring winds drive them up on the beach where they dry out. All park visitor centers will be open on Monday, May 25 Memorial Day holiday. A short service is scheduled for Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Lifesaving Station Cemetery off Sir Francis Drake Highway and the Historic Boathouse at Chimney Rock will be open later that day between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Tomales Beach boat in restrooms are opened this week for the season. Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Early risers this week will be rewarded with Eta Aquarid meteor showers arcing across the sky, peaking Wednesday and then diminishing by Mothers Day, this shower originated from Haley's Comet. The full moon rises May 9 with a few early morning daylight low tides:
That most hardy of shorebirds, the snowy plover, has one nest being monitored this year—so far. Enclosures of string and metal fencing along the Great Beach are reminders of where they are attempting to nest, please avoid these areas, look for the annual closures signs especially from Kehoe Beach South to North Beach. Springtime is also the beginning of annual bat monitoring—a healthy 212 Townsend Big eared bats in the first Olema Valley counts; spotted owl nest counts in older growth woods are also positive this year! The usual sign of spring at Bear Valley—the gopher hunting great blue heron appeared last week. This week is also peak harbor seal season—Bolinas Lagoon and the Estero Trail are good spots to observe from a safe distance. Or the newly repaired film at Bear Valley Visitor Center has some great images of onshore antics of these marine mammals. A permit for 100+ people at the Bear Valley Picnic area has been issued for Sunday, May 10 between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Expect congestion in this area. New photography show at Bear Valley Visitor Center is nature images by Kevin Shea going up this week! Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Forwarded to Park Wavelengths Subscribers:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 Forwarded to Park Wavelengths Subscribers
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Last updated: March 27, 2020