Striped Shore Crab

While visiting Point Reyes National Seashore in California, I hiked along small waterways in a cattle grazing area and saw a number of these neat crustaceans. Typically this crab is brown-to-purple or black with green stripes. Though this color combination … Continue reading →

Pacific Hound’s Tongue

This is a distinctive wildflower that I sometimes encounter on my April visits to California. It is native to western North America, where it grows in shady areas in woodland and chaparral. Its flowers change color, perhaps telling pollinators whether … Continue reading →

Black-crowned Night Heron

This is a bird that resides in my home state of Ohio, but I see it more often when on out-of-state travels. I most recently saw one while visiting California. They live in fresh, salt, and brackish wetlands and are … Continue reading →