Say the name “rat” and a nasty, sneaky Norwegian stow-away rat comes to mind. Erase that image and imagine a multicolor, fur-coated, big eared rodent with a fuzzy tail as... read more →
Every walk on Morro Strand State Beach is an adventure. On December 24 while strolling along looking at birds I noticed some most unusual organisms at my feet. Dozens of... read more →
Have you seen markings in the sand that look like these? Do you just ignore them or explore further? Well—you SHOULD explore! Hole and Snail. Image courtesy of Faylla Chapman... read more →
King Tides—what are they? Where did the name come from? When do they happen? Here are some of the answers. King Tides got their name in Australia, where they have... read more →
So much more than a delicate wildflower, this plant deserves its four names: ‘wavy leaf soap plant,” “soap root,” “amole,” and Chlorogalum pomeridianum or “afternoon blooming green milk.” And it’s... read more →
Horn Sharks Have you ever worried about the sharks in Morro Bay? There is even an area called Shark Inlet! Horn Shark feeding on the sea floor. Image courtesy of... read more →
Butterflies are a little different from moths: Image courtesy of wildpollinatorcount.com Butterflies are usually brightly colored and are active during the day. Their antennae are usually long and thin, ending... read more →
Walking along Morro Strand I hear high-pitched screeches in the sky. I turn and see a cluster of terns wheeling onto shore. Sixty or more settle their white bodies onto... read more →
Palm trees in the ocean? Surely you jest! Nope-just a different type of palm-a seaweed one. Postelsia palmaeformis, the sea palm, is a dead ringer for a land-type palm tree. It lives in the... read more →
Sandcastles? Worms? These go together? Well, sandcastles are not just for kids. The sandcastle worm, Phragmatopoma californica lives in massive sand formations on rocks in the mid intertidal area. You... read more →