June 1, 2022
I had the good fortune to spend a few days at the Bodega Marine Laboratory for a workshop (for The Virtual Field project). I’d not been to the marine lab before, and I was looking forward to seeing the facility, but to be honest I was most excited about the promise of seeing the wildlife on site.
I made good time driving to Bodega Bay on the “back roads” (Valley Ford, rather than going through Sebastopol), but once I arrived near Bodega Head, I had some difficulty finding the entrance to the lab. I missed the entrance on my first pass, and ended up driving all the way out to the end of West Shore Road (where the Bodega Bay Trail starts). After some GPS shenanigans, I finally found the entrance, and after checking my email to see if I’d been emailed a gate code (I had), I was able to get onto the marine lab property.
To be honest, I was feeling a bit frustrated and anxious. I was worried that I’d arrived late, due to getting lost for 20 minutes, and I wasn’t entirely sure where I was supposed to be, and there was literally no one else in sight (which, looking back, was probably a sign that I wasn’t actually late). I decided to venture into the building to try and find someone, but when I walked up to the main entrance, there was a sign on the door encouraging people to wear a mask, and I realized that I’d left all of mine in the car. So, I went back to the car and grabbed a mask, and then, since I hadn’t seen any sign of people at the main entrance, I decided to try and get in through a side door.
When I walked up to the side door, however, there was a sign on that door asking us to scan a QR code for a COVID assessment, and I realized that I’d left my phone in the car. Exasperated with myself, and feeling a bit overwhelmed and tired, and wondering if coming to the workshop had been the right choice, I headed back to the car. Before I could retrieve my phone, however, I looked up and saw two gorgeous Columbian Black-tailed Deer: a doe and a fawn. They were walking at the edge of the parking lot, and I was able to get some nice photographs of them as they made their way past the main building. Unsurprisingly, my mood improved greatly, and those beautiful, gentle animals reminded me that no matter what had happened up to that point in my day, I’d been in exactly the right place at that moment.
After checking in to my dorm room (and taking a few photos of birds in the housing area), the entire group gathered back at the marine lab for a tour of the facility and grounds. This was wonderful – we walked along the edge of the cliff, overlooking the majestic beauty of the Pacific Ocean.
A Columbian Black-tailed Deer and her two fawns were foraging on the scrubby vegetation. An enormous flock of at least 30 California Brown Pelicans flew overhead. And we looked down on the rocks beneath the cliffs to find them peppered with Pacific Harbor Seals who had hauled themselves out of the water to bask. I’d never seen so many seals in one place – adorable little sausages with big eyes that followed our movements when we were near the edge of the cliff. I was also pleased to find a wide variety of native plants that I hadn’t seen before, along with a few exotics.
After the tour and the introductory workshop session, we headed back to the housing area for dinner. I was amused to see just one lone Wild Turkey foraging around right outside the dining hall.
I’d only been on site for a few hours, and already I’d seen a bunch of great stuff. I was optimistic that the next two days were going to be wonderful.
Species List
Birds and Wildlife: California Quail (Callipepla californica), Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Western Gull (Larus occidentalis), Urile cormorant, California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), possible Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius), Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana), House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus), Pacific Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina richardii), Columbian Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)
Notable Plants: Sky Lupine (Lupinus nanus), Coastal Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus), Miniature Lupine (Lupinus bicolor), Mediterranean Stork’s-Bill (Erodium botrys), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Sea Fig (Carpobrotus edulis), Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima), Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus), San Francisco Spineflower (Chorizanthe cuspidata), California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), Common Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), Sheep’s Sorrel (Rumex acetosella), Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Let me know what you think!