Tag Archives: Peter Baye

•

Here's Peter Baye's experience recently on a kayak trip on Ten Mile River, north of Fort Bragg.

“Will Erickson and I found innumerable small crabs covering the eelgrass beds of the estuary, and running over the bottom on the flood tide as though stampeding! We estimated at least 50 per square yard. They looked like little Dungeness Crabs, and it turns out that’s exactly what they are! The eelgrass beds seem to be a nursery.”

A Dungeness Crab nursery, how wonderful is that? Dungeness Crab from the waters off the Mendonoma coast is delicious. Knowing that there are so many baby crabs in the estuary is like having money in the bank!

Ten Mile River is found ten miles north of the mouth of the Noyo River in Fort Bragg.

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

•

Neotamias ochrogenys, Yellow-cheeked Chipmunks, are only found near the Coast in Northern California. Peter has recently been able to photograph them.


Peter says they are very elusive. Members of the squirrel family, they are associated with redwood trees. I have never seen one, but I will be looking for them now that I know what they look like.

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with  you here.

•

It's Latin name sounds pretty scary -Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis. California Red-sided Gartersnakes are only found on the California Coast from Humboldt County south to Monterey Bay. Peter Baye recently photographed one found along Tenmile River.

They have a toxin in their saliva which can be deadly to their prey. They are not considered harmful to humans but I wouldn't want to be bitten by one. Their bite could cause an adverse reaction. California Red-sided Gartersnakes eat a wide variety of creatures, including Banana Slugs. Gartersnakes are the only known creature that can eat Rough-skinned Newts.

They are great swimmers and will often retreat into the water if threatened. C'Anna Bergman Hill photographed this Red-sided Gartnersnake in a creek on the Stornetta Public Lands.

Thanks to Peter and C'Anna for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

•

Peter Baye hikes the reaches of the Gualala River. He found Dogbane, Apocynum cannabinum, in bud.

Peter wrote, “It’s a rare occurrence for Sonoma County. It’s also called Indian-hemp, a Pomo textile plant. It has fibers like hemp, not the ‘medical’ properties. It’s the only colony I’ve even seen in the Gualala River watershed.”

Apocynum means Away dog! The plant is toxic for our canine friends.

Would you like to learn more about the Gualala River? Visit the Friends of the Gualala River website at http://gualalariver.org/

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

•

Vancouveria hexandra, Inside-out Flower, is blooming now in moist forest under Douglas-fir. Its petals are swept back as if it's turning itself inside out.

The flowers look like white shooting stars! Peter Baye recently photographed this flower alongside one of the reaches of the Gualala River. I thank him for allowing me to share his photo with you here.