Nature

Fire Near Old Ranch Road

Helicopters dropped water on a fire near Old Ranch Road on Labor Day. The fire was contained in about 30 minutes.

October 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 10

Violet-green Swallow at Vasona Lake

Photo by Brian Weselby.

By Photo by Brian Weselby · October 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 10

Perseid Meteor Shower

By Photos by Marina Kudrya · October 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 10

California Sea Hare

For the past 50 years, the California sea hare has been well known in the scientific community.

By Bruce Sudweeks · October 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 10

BEan IN NATURE

Survival Summer Camps at Los Gatos Farms

We invite your young explorer to learn the skills of wilderness survival and strengthen their connection to the earth and its creatures. BEan IN NATURE offers weekly wilderness-survival…

By Holly Bowen · July 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 7

Point Lobos State Marine Preserve

Blue Rockfish

I recently enjoyed a kelp forest bathing session at Point Lobos State Marine Reserve, within a school of blue rockfish. It was very peaceful. The blue rockfish is a vital part of the kelp…

By Bruce Sudweeks · June 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 6

Friends of Bear Creek Stables

MidPen Agreement Approved

In late February, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District approved an agreement with Friends of Bear Creek Stables (FBCS), to transform the historic stables into a public educational…

By Kathy McKinney · April 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 4

Love is in the Water

California Newts

’Tis the season for amphibian romance. These two California newts (Taricha torosa) were observed at Lexington Reservoir, near where Soda Springs enters the lake. These cute little creatures…

By Bruce Sudweeks · March 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 3

Lion’s Mane Nudibranchs

Recently there has been an explosion of lion’s mane nudibranchs at what is called Middle Reef, just off of San Carlos Beach in Monterey. These creatures are also called hooded nudibranchs…

By Bruce Sudweeks · February 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 2

Grebes

Every year from around November through February, Western and Clark’s Grebes migrate to Calero Reservoir in southern Santa Clara County to breed. The species are very similar, and both are…

By Mercury Freedom · February 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 2

Plumose Anemone and Chestnut

Cowrie

The image shows two unique creatures that I don’t typically see near each other. Giant plumose anemones are more common in the Monterey Bay, while chestnut cowries are more common in Carmel…

By Bruce Sudweeks · January 2026 · Volume MMXXVI, Number 1