• See if the fish are spawning; check for updates and tours at SPAWN (Salmon Protection And Watershed Network)
• Check out the terrific local artists at the semi-annnual Open Studios (see map below)
• Take a look at the recent work at restoring Tomales Bay back further to its natural state
• Maybe you can catch the end of the Tule Elk Rut Season
• For bird watchers, it’s always worth a stroll to Abbotts Lagoon, where you may be able to find migrating birds.

Point Reyes 2008 Thanksgiving Open Studios Map

• Coho salmon and steelhead trout have been massing in Tomales Bay waiting for the first flush of freshwater out of the creeks to begin their travels up the watershed
• The new boardwalk at Abbotts Lagoon is open
• Annual request from the trail crew as we enter the winter season:  Please report downed trees to park visitor centers or by phone (415) 464-5137.  To assist a quicker response, the following information is needed:  the type of tree (bay, oak, fir, etc.)  the diameter of the tree, (how big around); a good location description; and whether a hiker or horseback rider can get around it. 

The NPS has a goal of keeping the Point Reyes area as close to “natural” as possible and this project will bring back much habitat to the wetlands, especially the fish (sturgeon, steelhead, chinook and coho salmon) and birds (almost half of the North American bird species pass through the area).

If you want to see the restored areas, here is information from the NPS web site:

Where can we view the restoration area?

The restoration project area can be viewed from several vantage points in the Point Reyes-Inverness area. Some of the existing trails may be temporarily or permanently closed during construction, however, most trails will be reopened once construction is completed. Trails and viewing points include:

• Lagunitas Creek spur trail: Southern portion of East Pasture adjacent to Point Reyes Station. Trail can be accessed from entrance to Green Bridge County park along State Route 1 just east of the Green Bridge. This trail winds through riparian habitat in the Green Bridge County park and then follows the edge of Lagunitas Creek out towards White House Pool area. During construction, this trail will be temporarily closed, and it will be rerouted slightly as part of Phase II work.

• White House Pool County park: On the south side of Lagunitas Creek, the County of Marin Parks and Open Space District manages a small park on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard (Levee Road) that has a path that winds through riparian habitat as it follows the edge of Lagunitas Creek. Parking may be found at an on-site parking lot. This park provides several locations to view the restoration project area across the creek.
  

• Olema Marsh Trail: On the opposite of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or Levee Road is Olema Marsh. A trail starts in the parking lot from Olema Marsh and crosses the top of the shutter ridge as it follows the east side of the marsh, eventually ending at Levee Road. Olema Marsh is one of the areas that will be restored as part of Phase II. The trail will be closed temporarily during the construction period.

• Tomales Bay Trail: For those wanting a longer walk and grander vistas of the restoration project area and Tomales Bay, the Tomales Bay Trail provides beautiful views of much of the Tomales Bay watershed. The trailhead is located off State Route 1 just north of Point Reyes Station. There is a small parking lot. The trail is approximately 1 -1.3 miles long. In future years, this spur trail will be extended to provide better views of some of the northern portions of the East Pasture and the shallowly flooded flats that attract hundreds of shorebirds and waterfowl in the fall and winter.

• West Pasture North Levee path (Temporary): The northern portion of the West Pasture and adjacent undiked marsh can currently be viewed at a small informal spur trail that occurs on the West Pasture North off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. This path will be closed during construction starting September 1 and will not be reopened. In the future, the Park Service will develop a viewing overlook area to enable residents and visitors to view the newly restored marsh.

For further reading on the project:

• National Park Service Updates
• A podcast with the Project Mananger
• Good Article in the MarinIJ
• Good Article in the LA Times

[UPDATE: Here is a photo from NPS taken by Robert Campbell.  It shows the extent of the new Giacomini Wetlands (560 acres).  This area in the photo has been diked for over 60 years until last weekend.]

• Watch out for the black tailed deer along the roads.  Deer are feeding on ripening acorns for their last bit of fattening as the does become pregnant and before winter
• At the end of the rut season, bucks may sometimes run directly into road areas following does
• The Park Service is building a new trail at Limantour Beach to the Limantour Estero, part of the Coastal Watershed Restoration.  The goal is to complete work before serious rains begin.  Watch for heavy equipment and stay behind temporary fencing.

• Young elephant seals have made an early appearance at Chimney Rock ; about 40 sub-adults (rowdy teenagers!) are on the beach practicing their wrestling and noisemaking skills in preparation for the winter breeding season
• Humpback whale sightings off Limantour and Agate Beaches continue to delight visitors.  Look for their long curved fin and tails with white underneath to distinguish them.
• Hikers and Bikers especially on the Bolinas Ridge Trail should be watchful of the beef cattle calving season;  cows are very defensive of their calves and may stare and or approach if they feel threatened.
• Numerous warblers are resting in the trees at the Fish Docks after last weekends storm - prothonotary, black polled, yellow rumped,  and palm with a Downy woodpecker in the mix.

Photo by Harold Davis

The National Park Service publishes a newsletter about events, closures, natural history, and cultural history at Point Reyes.

Riots of fall colors with the autumnal equinox this week - check out brilliant red poison oak along Limantour Road. The new moon rises Monday, September 29 with higher than usual daylight tides 5.4 - 5.9 feet in the afternoons. Other fall delights - the continuing presence of humpback whales off the Great Beach, splashing and breaching; the fall bird migration is underway - blackpoll warbler at the Lighthouse and some redstarts.

A young bat has been stopping in at the Lighthouse over the past few weeks, lingering in the fog signal building, an unusual siting for this spot.. The overall bat population in the park remains healthy, 325 Townsend’s Big eared bats were counted in the annual survey last week at their roost in Olema Valley. Traditionally, roosts were inside cavities of old growth redwoods and hillside caves; as these roosts disappeared they have moved into old barns and attics.

Large fish observed under the green bridge in Point Reyes are not early salmonids - they are carp; look for the noticeable scales and the fact they are ‘out in the open’ not seeking deep cool waters to hide. They are native to Eurasia and like slow moving shallow streams with lots of organic matter to root around in.

Marin County Open Space rangers will be exploring the “Pond Life of the Palomarin Area” on Sunday, September 28th between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm; meet at the Palomarin Trailhead off Mesa Road near Bolinas.

A planned closure of the Olema Marsh Trail is now posted for October 6th (originally slated for September 22) as part of the Giacomini Restoration. Trail staff are working with Marin Conservation Corps groups on reconstructing the Abbotts Lagoon Trail; the reroute of Greenpicker, Rift Zone and Estero Trails. These are not closed but you may see the crews at work.

Prescribed burns may occur this week on Wednesday (24) and Friday (26), off Limantour Road west of the Hostel and off Highway 1 near the Randall Trail to manage fuel loads and reduce exotic plants.

Luckily, the folks at Sunset gave it a try and declared the “best grilled cheese on the planet.”  Here’s what’s in it:

Two slices of locally-baked Brickmaiden wholewheat bread slathered with Straus sweet butter and pressed with Bravo Farm cheddar (available from Cowgirl Creamery), and—and, this is the best part—one Point Reyes Station egg, fried.

Next time I am at the market, you can be sure I will be on line.

Read the whole article…

The full moon rises on September 15 at 2:13 am.  This moon brings some very high afternoon daylight tides between 5.7 and 6.3 feet so plan beach excursions early in the day.  The autumnal equinox follows on the next Monday, August 22nd as we begin to lose a few moments of daylight each day.

Warm weather had created excellent marine mammal viewing from Limantour Beach.  Breaching minke and humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises were observed across the weekend from the beach along with many loons and common murres.  It is possible some type of ‘bloom’ of food associated with warmer water temperatures is drawing in the feasting crowds although we often see humpbacks and blues at this time of year.  Large numbers of Sooty Shearwaters are feeding off Abbots Lagoon.   On Tomales Bay, a die off of moon jellies has washed in many blobs of clear jelly with the trademark white crescents.  These are a favorite food for sea turtles.  Unfortunately, plastic bags in the water can mimic the drifting jellies and are eaten by turtles.  The indigestible bags block absorption of nutrients and food and can cause malnutrition and death for the turtles.  A reminder, the brown colored Lions Mane jellies can cause an allergic reaction if you brush against; a sting was reported from Drakes Beach last Saturday.  Avoid them on the beach!

Snowy Plovers hung in there this year, final numbers approximately 16% survival rate; 33 birds hatched and five fledged.  Some of the nesting area was disturbed by clean up for a shipwreck that washed ashore at Kehoe Beach; cautious Dad Plover managed to shield the last three from this disturbance.

Excellent year for berries all round, the latest fruit is Blue Elderberry, large dusky dark purple-blue clusters are draped over Bear Valley Road and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard especially in the San Geronimo Valley.   Buckeye nut pods are appearing as the leaves are dropped, the green balls can be seen on the trees.

Coastal Clean Up Day is coming up on Saturday, September 20th.  Meet at Limantour Beach at 9:30 am to clean up trash and enjoy the day.

A permit has been issued for September 14th for the annual “Piper On the Ridge” event on Mount Vision Road;  The annual event features a bagpiper greeting the rising full moon and begins approximately 7:00 pm.  Free, but no dogs permitted:  check on whether extreme fire danger may close the road.

PG + E will be working in the pastures off North Beach for the next few weeks, restringing lines over the fields; no affect on services or traffic is expected.

Photo by Jerry Ting

I love visiting Point Reyes and Tomales Bay (as well as most of Northern California) in September. The crowds are thinner and the weather is warmer as the fog doesn’t dominate nearly as much as in the early summer.

Check out our weather page and plan to come out!

The National Park Service publishes a newsletter about events, closures, natural history, and cultural history at Point Reyes.

Very High FIRE Danger for Marin County through Friday, August 29th.  Double check on whether Mount Vision Road will be open and if beach fires are permitted. Fire danger rating is calculated from air temperature, projected wind,  and fuel moisture (dryness of grass and ground vegetation).  Stinson Beach continues closed through August 29 due to a reported shark sighting Monday.

A new moon rises on Saturday August 30, with higher than usual tides from 5.4-5.7 feet high, the beaches will seem smaller in mid day!
A very high tide mid-day (5.7 at 1:05 pm)  will make visiting the annual Sand Sculpture contest on Sunday, August 31st best early in the day.  Registration for this event  begins at 9:00 am and judges will be on Drakes Beach at 12:30 sharp.

The berry season is being followed by the development of tree nuts - look for bright yellow-green ‘mini-lemons’ on the California Bay Trees; the outer covering will dry off to reveal a brown shelled round edible nut.  Coast Miwok fire roast and eat the nuts.  Buckeye trees are dropping their leaves along with brilliant yellow Big Leaf maples; gray squirrels are chewing up fir and pine cones to get at the seeds - all signs of the approaching autumn.

The tule elk rut continues - volunteer docents are on hand weekends with spotting scopes and have reported watching a  dominant male with a 30 cow harem under his care; bachelor herds lingering around!  Sparring and boxing elk may be seen during this busy time.

Permits have been issued for picnics at Bear Valley on Saturday, August 30; parking congestion expected.  All park visitor centers are open on Monday, September 1st, Labor Day holiday.  Coast and Sky Camps close September 2-11 for rehabilitation.

The ocean film series continues with a double feature on Thursday, August 28 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm  - Restoring Balance (Removing the Black Rat from Anacapa island and Returning Home (Bringing the Common Murre back to Devils Slide Rock)  Free and open to the public, bring your own popcorn.

Photographer Robert Campbell will be showing slides of his new book of aerial photographs on Saturday, August 30th at 12:30 pm at Bear Valley Visitor Center. Free!

This is how I like to experience Point Reyes!

Tea & Pt. Reyes, originally uploaded by Briana Robertori.

The National Park Service publishes a newsletter about events, closures, natural history, and cultural history at Point Reyes.

The full moon rises on Saturday, August 16 - the “Collect Food for Winter Moon” for the Haida of the Pacific north coast.  A few daylight low tides arrive just before sunrise:

Saturday, August 16  5:21 am -0.3  (sunrise at 6:27 am)
Sunday, August 17  6:06 am  -0.2 (sunrise 6:28 am)
Monday, August 18 6:23 am  0.1 (sunrise 6:28 am)

The best window for tidepooling is an hour before and an hour after the low.

It is a great time for all species to be collecting berries for immediate consumption, jams and pies etal.  Berries of all colors sizes and shapes are ripe!  Not for humans - Snowberries (solid white) and clear pink jelly berries from the Honeysuckle vine are excellent bird snacks. Humans have huckleberries and various blackberries to pick - the tiny native California Blackberry; the larger Cut leaf and Armenian (formerly called the Himalaya berry) blackberries are all ripening along trails and roadsides.

The first signs of seasonal changes are here- brilliant splashes of scarlet Poison Oak vines along roadsides and the beginning of the Tule Elk rut at Tomales Point - bulls bugling and thrashing vegetation; large groups of females - harems have formed.

Activity continues in the Muddy Hollow Trail area; biologists are netting fish from the ponds in anticipation of the dam removal; historically these ponds were maintained as animal watering holes and stocked with bass

A busy calendar of free events in the park over the next few weeks:

Curious about the Giacomini wetlands project?  The contractor from Hanford will be on hand at 5th and C streets at 10:00 am on August 23rd to answer questions and lead a short walk through the site to explain the current state of the project.  This talk is the first in a series that will continue in the fall covering birds, fish, wetlands ecology, etc. Large amounts of levee removal debris is stockpiled off Sir Francis Drake Highway on the west side of the marsh; awaiting removal to quarry sites in the park.

A special booksigning and lecture on marine photography is scheduled for Saturday, August 16th at 12:30 pm at Bear Valley Visitor Center by Marc Shargel who will showing slides and signing copies of his new book “Wonders of the Sea, North Central California’s Living Marine Riches”

Also on tap the Fall 2008 Ocean Film and Lecture Series begins on Thursday, August 21st with “Papa Tortuga” a film about one persons efforts in Veracruz Mexico to help save endangered Lora Sea turtles.  It will be shown between 7:00-8:00 pm in the Red Barn Classroom at park headquarters.

Permits have been issued for a wedding at Limantour Beach on August 20th between 9:30am - 11:30 am and also on August 23 between 1:30pm and 3:30 pm.  Both are 50 or less people so no parking congestion is anticipated.

PICT1714 - Culture Can’t Swim, originally uploaded by H2ORANGE.