Hands Across the Sand in Bodega Bay

Please join us in 'Hands Across the Sand' event on Doran Beach in Bodega Bay, Saturday, August 4, 2012. Meet at 12:00 p.m. (noon) at the whale statue. We will join hands at 12:15 p.m.

  

Doran Beach

"Hands Across the Sand has been a global success with thousands of events in all 50 states and over 40 countries worldwide, from New Zealand to Hawaii. Joining hands is a powerful way to say NO to offshore drilling and YES to clean energy!"

Kelp message on Doran Beach

Bottlenose Dolphins in Bodega Bay . . .

Bottlenose dolphin ~ Doran Beach, Bodega Bay, CA ~ Darris Nelson

Two women vacationing in Bodega Bay pointed out a pod of Bottlenose dolphins that were frolicking and fishing about seventy five yards offshore.

Susan from Texas & Anna-Alise from NV

 
It was overcast and the light was getting dim. Although the photos aren't the greatest, they do give you a sense of my experience. If you're patient you'll actually get a good sighting and action on the video.

The dolphins seemed to be fishing in two groups. I believe there was a total of six dolphins in the pod possibly more.

 

I watched and filmed from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. At about 5:30 my right contact dried up and folded in my eye and rolled back someplace that I wasn't able to find. I kept shooting hoping I was getting some worthwhile images. I called my husband at about 6:00 p.m. because I had a two mile walk ahead of me and I couldn't see my hand in front of my face! Besides, I knew he wouldn't want to miss this rare event.

 

 

Someday I might take the time to edit my photos and video but in the meantime they're straight out of my Canon SX 30 point and shoot.

 

Harbor seal checking out the commotion

 
It was a beautiful evening at Doran Beach . . .  

 

Tracking wildlife on the Sonoma Coast . . .

 Marbled Godwit and Willet. Bodega Bay Winter Migration ~ Photo by Tom Reynolds

Bobcat at Spring Lake ~ photo by Tom Reynolds

A big draw for people who visit and live on our Sonoma Coast is the vast open space, rolling tree studded hills, abundant creeks and waterways, and bountiful wildlife. Those of us who live here and hike the hills regularly, often don't think about the diverse population of wild creatures that live among us. One of the animals that call the Sonoma Coast home is the often maligned mountain lion. 

Photo from Felidae Conservation Fund

In August, a blog reader left a comment about a mountain lion sighting in the Bodega Dunes Campground here in Bodega Bay, CA. I responded to the comment by contacting Zara from The Felidae Conservation Fund and tracker Jim Sullivan. My email to Jim prompted him to go out to Bodega Dunes and check the site for tracks. 

The following is Jim's email response to me:

"Darris:

I went out to the Bodega Dunes campground yesterday and spent an hour and a half walking around the perimeter and some of the densely vegetated areas in the center.  I found tracks and scat of bobcats, coyotes, raccoons and foxes, but no sign of a cougar.  I talked to one of the maintenance people and he hadn’t heard about the incident...and thought he would have.  There is plenty of good habitat there in which a big cat could hide.  But lots of people camping out there have dogs, which I suspect would make it undesirable for any but a very young, hungry cat. Usually when there is a cat around, the dogs bark more or less all night.  (There have been lots of sightings east of the highway, so I don’t have any problem imagining a cat in that area.)

Your story about the raccoons is relevant...they make a horrendous scream and lots of people have confused that noise with cougar screams, including me when I was younger.  Your contact mentioned that they saw deer tracks going through the campsite...if you do make contact with them, try to get them to describe these tracks...normally tracks from deer who are not frightened will be fairly evenly spaced and not more than a couple of feet apart.  If a cat was chasing a deer, the tracks would be clustered in a gallop or pronk pattern, with quite a bit of space between groups of 4 prints.

(Incidentally, the ranger I talked to told me an interesting story.  He was in the bar at the Tides restaurant (Friday evening, I think)  and everybody saw a buck trapped in the mud out in the middle of the bay, just standing there.  After about an hour or so the tide came in enough to float it, and it swam away.)"


Note: 'pronk' means to "jump straight up" similar to a kangaroo.

I  haven't heard back from the reader who left the comment. They indicated that they moved from the campsite they occupied. Jim offered to talk with the person and had more questions about what they saw and heard.

JIM SULLIVAN is a 4th generation Sonoma county native, lifetime naturalist, with a degree in Biology.  He graduated from Notre Dame, studied in Vienna, UC Santa Barbara and San Francisco State, as well as on going studies at SRJC and SSU.  A long time environmental and social justice activist, he served 4 years in the Infantry and was instrumental in launching the Natural Foods Movement..  He is a retired Landscape Contractor, an award winning Plein Air landscape painter, and an internationally certified tracker.  If you're interested in working with Jim, he can be contacted through his website: Animal Tracking and Bird Language.  Jim offers: animal tracking, guided tours, bird language, species hikes, workshops and consultations.  


I highly recommend a tracking experience with Jim Sullivan. A couple of years ago Jim took my family and a friend out for a day of tracking. Jim is an engaging and interesting person with a curious and playful spirit. The day was fun and rewarding for all of us.

Osprey eating breakfast ~ photo by Tom Reynolds