Tag Archives: Amy Ruegg

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I'll let Amy Ruegg tell the story.

Amy wrote, “Saturday night 7/27/24 while we were watching the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, at about 10:15 or so, Sydney [the dog] barked loudly twice in a way she hadn't before and jumped to the balcony railing with a growl. We brought our brightest flashlights out and there were four sets of glowing reflective eyes shining back at us. Eric's flash photography revealed the mother Mountain Lion - huge and muscular - and three Cubs about the size of Bobcats with spots still on their coats. The lions were not fearful. They remained for maybe 15 minutes or so. We think they may have been getting a drink from the spring behind our house.

“The next morning, a gathering of Turkey Vultures was assembled on trees and ground nearby, possibly indicating the site of a kill from the night before. We think the mother Mountain Lion may have made a kill, perhaps a Fawn or other animal, then led her Cubs to the water for a drink. After several minutes, she moved leisurely on into the night.”

Amy said the Deer were absent the next day, but returned on Monday. Amy wrote further, “If you watch nature very closely, you will see these subtle clues. With the Deer back in the neighborhood, I am pretty certain the Mountain Lion family has moved on."

Amazing! Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photos with you here and to Amy for telling the story.

Warm and breezy today! No fog.

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I have never found one of these beauties. But Chris Pechal found this blooming at The Sea Ranch recently. It's called Pleated Gentian, Gentian affinis.

I shared Chris’ photo with botanist Peter Baye. He confirmed the ID, writing, “Definitely Gentian affinis. That’s an exceptionally pure and large-spotted one. It is distributed right along the immediate coast in well-drained sandy marine terrace soils. There are some old records of it near you in Anchor Bay, and Amy Ruegg reported one from Sea Ranch.” I’ll be looking at my place in Anchor Bay. I have well-drained sandy soil!

Breezy and cooler today, temps in the low 70's.

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We don't see these butterflies very often on the coast. Maybe they like it a little warmer! But Amy Ruegg found a California Dogface Butterfly recently feeding on native thistle!

Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Foggy this morning, sunny this afternoon - must be the coast!

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Northwestern Fence Lizards look like little dragons! Amy Ruegg recently photographed several basking on rocks.

In looking at Amy's photos, I'm wondering if the top one could be pregnant.

Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

It's sunny with strong winds today. Looks like the spring winds have arrived. And they bring upwelling in the Pacific Ocean, igniting the food chain.

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A few years ago, Chris Pechal and I found a rare white Calypso Orchid  alongside one of the public access trails on The Sea Ranch. She recently spotted it and got this great photo.

For comparison, here are normal-colored Calypso Orchids as photographed by Amy Ruegg. Amy's dog Sydney is photo-bombing the photo!

Thanks to Chris and Amy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The day started out sunny but this afternoon some clouds have moved in. It's in the mid-sixties and just a gentle breeze.