California Coast Ramblings

Uninvited deck hands

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:00:00 +0000

They invited themselves on board, took over and don't look like they have any intention of leaving. They look so at home, at ease, perfectly comfortable with their makeshift roosts.

changes

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:32:00 +0000

It seems this site just isn't getting visited except by a few individuals, so rather than posting more content here, I'll be only adding content to my Sierra Nevada Ramblings site, including copying items from here to there, spread out over a number of months. For those of you who have visited here and there, I apologize for the doubled up posts. So, no new posts will be made here, and I'll just add a lot of coastal items to my more popular site.

You are more than welcome to make additional (or repeat) comments as the posts show up at SNR. Thanks for coming here.

Russian River meets Sea

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:26:00 +0000

Following the Russian River as it meanders through redwood shrouded hills on its final approach to the Pacific Ocean, one is rewarded with a beautiful view where river meets sea. A gigantic sand spit stretches far across the river's mouth, with just a small area open allowing the river to flow out into the salty water.

Some years part of the sand spit washes away, and other times it builds up taller and wider. The far end of the spit is anchored to the cliff and a road extends down the hill onto the edge of the sand where a day use parking area lies. It is a long walk out the spit to where the river flows through, and marine mammals like to use that spit to haul out on and raise their young.

The watershed of the Russian River receives a huge amount of rainfall each winter, and at times the river rises to a height that floods small towns, with the river 25 feet deeper and filling the lower stories of houses and stores with muddy, deep water. The area once was just a resort community, with many houses built on stilts and residences only used during the summer months. For decades now, people reside year-round in this flood zone, and many buildings routinely receive water that fills them up.

Sand Dollars

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:51:00 +0000

Have you ever found a sand dollar lying upon a sandy beach? These round, flattish disks that appear to be made of sand are the leftover "tests" of a marine animal similar to a sea urchin, and they live beneath the waters where the sea bed is nice and sandy.

When alive, they are covered with dense, purple, very short spines and they stand on edge in the sand, moving around, finding food. When seas are rough, they lay down on the sand, and when predators such as sea stars come around, they dig themselves into the sand and hide. The live up up to 10 years.

Most sand dollars wash up onto the beach as white, spineless disks, but occasionally a purple one, still covered with hairlike spines, appears. The ones that aren't totally bleached out may even be green on the inside.

Here in California, finding sand dollars is easy in areas where sandy beaches extend for miles, as all that sand provides a perfect habitat, extending out beneath the waters. Visiting a beach as the tide recedes means you might be first to find what the tide left behind.

Hungry pelicans

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:17:00 +0000

There are two species of pelicans in North America, and one of those is the Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, an endangered species that was almost obliterated by pollution from a pesticide plant that was dumping directly into the Pacific ocean in southern California, back in the 1970s. Apparently, huge amounts of DDT was dumped directly into the sea where it entered the food chain and by the time pelicans ate their dinner, the amount of DDT was so great, that with additional meals, the pelicans were so affected, they no longer could raise chicks, as the chicks never even made it out of the egg, the shells were so thin.

Fortunately, that pollution ceased, DDT was banned, and the brown pelicans slowly recovered. They are, however, still on the endangered species list.

A visit to the coast of California brings the site of lots of pelicans nowadays. They are large ponderous birds, sitting about 2 1/2 feet tall, with massive bills and a uniqueness about them that is very different from other birds, due in part to their size, but mainly their posture, and the way they hold their heads and that massive, pouched bill.

They are coastal birds, they live right along the shore, flying out to sea a few miles in search of fish to eat. They catch fish by diving into the water and grabbing the fish in their bills, with the weight of their huge bodies knocking the fish. They then tip their head and bill to the side, allowing water to drain out, then tip back their head and swallow the fish whole.

While visiting a wharf on a bay, a fishing boat came in and as the fish were being cleaned, pelicans and sea gulls swarmed the dock, looking for handouts. Dozens of pelicans and hundreds of sea gulls seemed to be living on the rooftops of buildings and decks of boats all over that small harbor. A few were busy fighting over the entrails tossed into the water as fish were cleaned. In the last image, the pelican has such a handout in its bill.

Hiding in plain sight

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:00:00 +0000

When visiting wild places, there are often creatures very,very near, but unless you are very still and quiet, you may never see what is hiding in plain sight. Upon first glance, a coastal bluff may appear to be a huge expanse of low growing plants and not much more. Yet, if you stop and look closely, all sorts of things can capture the attention.

Bushes such as this lupine offer shelter to many small creatures, including squirrels and rabbits, birds and insects. Squatting down to get a close look, the open, mildewed seed pods tell a story of successful seed making and seed dispersal. Those pods rupture when ripe, scattering seeds many feet in all directions.

Standing on a bluff, still and quiet, a little squirrel at first was hiding beneath the branches of yet another low growing shrub. I sat down on the bank, and within minutes the squirrel returned to its pile of seeds, eating non-stop for the entire 10 minutes I sat there.

That little squirrel blended in with the dried leaves so well, I couldn't help but notice what a perfect color it was. With minimal movements, even a sharp eyed predator might not see the squirrel.

Coastal bluffs are wonderful places to explore, especially when a trail winds along through the knee deep brush. Many coastal areas have access along the bluffs, including short trails next to turnouts along the coast highway, and proper trails that go for miles, paralleling the shore, or wandering inland a ways in developed parks and recreation areas.

Flowers in bloom

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:01:00 +0000

Flowers are one of the very nice things that result from the mild coastal climate of California. With temperatures that hover between 50 and 70 degrees, many plants stay lush and green all year, and one species after another sends forth blooms, covering the hills and bluffs with color. The flowering plants attract all sorts of animals including insects, birds and small mammals, which feed on the foliage and seeds.

The 8 foot tall anise plant has tiny yellow flowers that form large umbels, and the plant itself has an odor and taste reminiscent of licorice root. If you crush a stem then sniff, a very pungent aroma is released. The anise plant loves the coastal climate. I don't think I've ever seen it growing anywhere very far inland.

Morning glories also grow profusely all over the chaparral covered hillsides, climbing on other plants, twining their long tendrils into the depths of sturdier species, then sending out delicate pinkish-white blossoms.

The role of flowers, of course, is to make seeds so the plant can reproduce, and these little beauties are covered with seed heads. I have no clue the name of this low growing little sunflower.

Gray along the shore

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:00:00 +0000

When skies are gray, everything seems to take on a similar hue, including pelicans sitting on the beach, gulls, sand, even the white caps on the waves.

Bits of color appear through the mist, but with distance, the color fades away.

Up close, colors are vivid, even bold. But on a foggy day, all seems mostly gray.

Furry little creature floating on the sea

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0000

Walking along a slow river channel near where it empties into the sea, I saw a sea otter all alone in that broad expanse of water, grooming in the evening dusk. Then suddenly, it closed its eyes and slept.

It was out for the night, and I left too. But, sight of that otter intrigued me, and early the next morning, I decided to return and explore the slough a bit more. Much to my surprise, upon discovering the mouth of the small harbor at Moss Landing, along the Monterey Bay, I also discovered a large group of sea otters, floating in the slow waters of the harbor mouth.

They were busy grooming and eating, and some were twirling around and around. Sea gulls followed the group closely. It was quite foggy in the early morning, and the sound of sea lions across the water was loud. The otters made little grunts, the sea gulls were silent.

There's a baby lying on top of its mom in that last image.

All those afterbirths bring the vultures

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Imagine my surprise when just down the coast a bit from the elephant seal sanctuary, I saw a dozen turkey vultures right along the beach. Some were on the sand, some on large chunks of driftwood, and many were spreading their wings wide, warming up in the sun.

Turkey vultures are very large birds, with a wingspan of almost 6 feet! They live throughout the Americas, and many migrate south for the winter months, overwintering in warm, temperate climates, including, the coast of California. The birds I saw were lazily sitting around, spreading wings wide to warm up, grooming, and wandering around on the ground, pecking at things.

When I got too close to one pair that were wandering along the ground, they flew away. Not wanting to disturb the birds, I walked over to the water, glancing at the vultures now and then, seeing if my backing off made them feel safer and willing to sun bathe again. Alas, a group of people descended to the beach, with a feisty dog that was running free, so my moving away from the birds didn't matter much at that point. However, the owner of the dog had some very interesting things to share about turkey vultures.

Apparently, the vultures come around every year when the elephant seals calve, and they eat the afterbirths and dead babies, with huge flocks of turkey vultures descending upon the coast line. She said some move elsewhere once the calving season is done, but some flocks remain, and eat what they can. She also said that her dog LOVES turkey vultures and that every year the dog gets harassed by vultures that swoop down on her when in her own back yard!

The adult turkey vulture has a red head that is bare of feathers. They eat dead animals and do not have the ability to hunt prey, so rely upon the death (and after births, apparently) of other animals to provide food for them.

Northern Elephant Seals

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:19:00 +0000

One of the fascinating creatures that takes up part time residence along the rocky shores of central California is the Northern Elephant Seal. They come ashore to mate and have young, but spend most of their life out at sea.

These images were taken a couple of weeks ago, along the coastline near San Simeon, California, along the Piedras Blancas shoreline. A trail goes along the coastal bluff and it's quite easy to find a beach or two with a few elephant seals snorting and grunting and sleeping.

Many of the seals in these images are young, you can see they are small and have very smooth, silvery fur...few if any scars from fights. The young are born in the winter, the mom's nurse them for a month, then take off, leaving the young to fend for themselves. All of the seals go out to sea to hunt for food, and spend months catching all sorts of prey, fattening up. They can hold their breath 17 to 20 minutes, and dive to depths of 300 to 800 meters while hunting. They come ashore in the spring or summer to molt, then head back to sea until breeding season. The young come ashore before mating season and hang out on the beaches for a couple of months before the breeding adults return.

The male elephant seal has a long snout which he uses to make deep noises with when in the water.. All of the sleeping seals had white stuff dripping from their nostrils and onto the sand.

They seem to be a very social group when pulled up on the beach. They lie next to one another, and as I sat on the bluff looking down at them, watched various seals move so they could rest a head on top of another seal. Some were back to back, others, nose to nose, and the littlest ones climbed onto the backs of the larger, sleeping seals.

You can read more about the Northern Elephant Seals here.

Ducks and Geese

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:00:00 +0000

In the coastal town of Marina, CA, on Monterey Bay, there is a road sign which has caught my attention a number of times, and finally, I stopped to take a photo of it, and explore the little park adjacent to it, to see if it was for real.

The sign is pretty cute, almost too cute to be something a road department would allow. I figured local folks must have installed the sign, it was just too cute to be for real. But, I stopped anyway, and walked along the trail that surrounds this little itsy bitsy city pond. Litter was all over the place, a shame really. But I did see a few geese on a field of grass, so I wandered that way to get close.

Geese tend to get feisty when a person gets too close, they either beg for food, or get downright defensive, ducking their heads and using body language to say, "stay back". These geese didn't beg at all, but a few moved their heads into that downward posture.

That sign however, showed ducks, not geese, and sure enough, there were pairs of mallards in the area too. Further around the little city pond was another grassy meadow, right below a parking lot, and that meadow was covered with adult ducks, dozens of them. I didn't see any babies, they must have been all grown up, probably the dozens of ducks were this years young.

What the tide brought in

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:00:00 +0000

A walk along a sandy stretch of beach can be enlightening if you stop to examine some of the things left by the water at high tide. Glance down the sandy shoreline and you might see a ragged line of shells, rocks, seaweeds and other items the receding waters dropped off.

Pelicans

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:40:00 +0000

Big and beautiful. Huge. Pelicans. They catch fish in those large scoops, sometimes they even catch birds. In the evening, small groups of pelicans fly low over the water, close to shore, heading for favorite fishing spots where they swoop down and catch fish in those massive bills.

These pelicans were resting and grooming in a small freshwater stream, just in from the sandy beach at the edge of the sea. The pelicans were splashing and grooming and floating on the water amidst a huge flock of sea gulls.

Sea Lions

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:47:00 +0000

The male sea lion seemed unconcerned with the antics of two smaller females that kept pushing at one another, vying for a spot on the wooden platform, next to the male. First there were three, then two, then three, then two on the platform, with the one female plopping herself down right in the path of the other, as the other tried to heave herself out of the water and onto the dock.

I wasn't certain if the sea lions were playing or just trying to get next to the male, or perhaps just trying to get out of the water.

The waterway was at Moss Landing, along the Monterey Bay coast, in a small harbor that seemed to be full of sea lions and boats.

After 5 minutes it seemed the two females settled down and both got to stay on the wooden platform with the male still just sitting there. At one point the male turned his head to watch the two as they pushed at one another, but he never moved more than his head.

Sea lions are very abundant along many stretches of the California coast. They heave themselves onto docks and low lying boats too, basking on rocks or human made items.

Fog on the Coast

noreply@blogger.com (zhakee) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:43:00 +0000

Once you've walked barefoot upon an ocean beach, with waves rolling steadily in then crashing, you've experienced something many folks in landlocked locations never get to see or do, and that is walk along the edge of a sea. Proximity to the sea is one of the wonderful perks of being in California, and that sea plays a major role in the climate experienced here.

Close to the coast there is fog, and a lot of it. The moisture that evaporates off the Pacific Ocean moves inland, as fog near the coast, as humid air further inland, and as rain which falls almost everywhere, from California to the Rocky Mountains. The Pacific Ocean is a great moderator of climate, with the maritime moisture evening out temperature extremes right along the coast, and providing a lot of water in the mountains.

Walking along a foggy beach in the early morning in the summer, is a muggy, gray experience. The ocean becomes a gray expanse that fades into the fog somewhere not too far out, and the continual crashing of waves is relentless, letting one know the ocean, though shrouded in gray, is a powerful force.