Tag Archives: Shell Beach

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Michele Melio was at Shell Beach, one of public access trails of The Sea Ranch. She wrote, "I saw something red, maybe a Downy or Hairy Woodpecker. No, something better, a Pileated Woodpecker, nature's chainsaw."

"The Beaver is nature's builder and engineer, but the woody woodpecker lives up to its name. They can turn a tree into sawdust and wood chips in a matter of days. I've never seen one in this area before, as they generally hide and hunt in the forest on the ridge with the bigger trees. I tried my best to get a better shot, but it kept calling "ha-ha-ha-ha-ha." Then comes a noisy pair of humans walking down the trail talking loudly. It took off cackling the entire way."

It's not always easy to get a photo of one of these prehistoric-looking birds. Here's another look at one of these beauties, this one taken by Mike Petrich.

Pileateds have a very unique call. You can listen to it at this link at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/sounds

Thanks to Michele and Mike for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

The storm late Friday brought another inch of rain, and we sailed past 25 inches season to date. It's raining Saturday afternoon and another storm is due in Sunday. Bring it, Mother Nature!

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Janet Flink wrote, "I have participated with Bonney Ely for the last three years in Snapshot Cal Coast, which is an annual  project through the California Academy of Sciences. Here is a link to their explanation of this event. https://www.calacademy.org/calcoast

"This year we went to four local beaches during the lowest tides of the year to gather data and take photos of their “most wanted species” and any other species we found interesting or rare. I focus on invertebrates and algae.  I post the photos and data to iNaturalist for verification by other experts.  These “BioBlitzes” help contribute to the knowledge of ranges of different species and especially any non-native or invasive species."

"The first is Hermissenda crassicornis, a gorgeous Nudibranch, about two inches long and found in a tide pool at Shell Beach.  This “sea slug” breathes through the feathery gills on its back, and has a very soft body.  It’s not common on our rocky shores, due to the heavy wave action."

This nudibranch's common name is Thick-horned Nudibranch. fyi, nudibranch is pronounced "nudibrank," Why? I dunno. Back to Janet's great sightings.

She wrote, "The second is our locally common sea star, Pisaser ochraceus, from Black Point Beach.   I just found the voluptuous pose of this one to be comical!"

These Stars, which come in various colors, are called Ochre Sea Stars. They used to be called Starfish, but they aren't fish!

Janet continues, "The third photo, taken last year at Shell beach depicts two stunningly beautiful pastel-colored Aggregating Anemones (Anthopleura elegantissima) from different colonies fighting for territory underwater."

"They do this with special club-like white tipped tentacles that shoot barbs at the enemy.  You can see the white clubs of the individual on the left, which has turned itself sideways, attacking the one on the right, which looks as if it is cowering and pulling away even as it’s beginning to brandish it’s own clubs.  Toward the bottom of the sideways one, you can see a club from the one on the right“landing a punch”!"

How amazing to see and learn more about these fascinating inhabitants of the intertidal zone. Thanks to Janet for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

Another toasty warm day, with high clouds streaming in. In Point Arena yesterday, those closer to the ocean never saw the sun, but today the sun broke through the fog mid-morning.

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Don Chigazola captured this beautiful sight - Shell Beach, which is on The Sea Ranch, and the Milky Way.

A beautiful work of art!

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

The smoke is much less today. We're looking forward to a nice westerly breeze to disperse the smoke.

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Roxanne Holmes wrote, "Somebody got a lovely 33rd birthday gift. I love it that people are willing to put such work into a piece of art that will be erased by the next tide."

"What a lovely birthday gift. The memory will last longer than any other, more traditional, present."

Roxanne found this artwork on Shell Beach at The Sea Ranch.

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

The fog is pretty darn persistent today, but it's a high fog and quite mild. No wind!

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Our access to parks and beaches continues to be restricted, but Roxanne Holmes knows how to make lemonade at Shell Beach on The Sea Ranch. She wrote, “For years, I have loved going down to the beach every evening to enjoy the close-up view of the waves crashing, seals bobbing, adults imbibing, kids shrieking, and dogs cavorting. Now the beach is closed. That is sad, but it has caused me to find vantage points to look at the beach from spots that are more remote, elevated, and unvisited.When I did that recently, I saw the beach, for the first time, without any footprints at all. There is a unique beauty in that"

"And twelve hours later, the same beach was covered in footprints – but they were made by cavorting deer. Perhaps the deer are happy to have the beach to themselves!”

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

Today is a most spectacular day - sunshine to warm us when we could use a little warmth. No sign of the Easter Bunny.

Spring doesn't know...