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Tuesday, April 26, 2011 A new moon rises Monday, May 2nd, and early risers may see the Eta Aquarid meteor shower which peaks Friday, May 6 before dawn. Several planets will appear together—Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury—for some spectacular light shows if the fog clears! Early signs of summer include brown pelicans skimming the waves of Drakes Beach, as well as the return of "Lake Drake." Ocean waves scour sand from the beaches in winter and then pile it back for summer, trapping water between the parking lot and the tideline. Bring your waders! Butter lupines are blooming profusely around the Lighthouse and Tomales Point; on warm days the air is full of fragrance. Trail updates: portions of the non-park maintained "social trail" on the west side of Chimney Rock have calved off into the ocean during the past spring. The main park trail—from the parking lot to the benches on the left/east side—is intact. The area is posted. Portions of the Cross Marin Trail near the Jewell Trail have also been damaged and this area is closed as well. A car commercial is filming in the north area with staging at South Beach; no impacts for visitors expected this week. New art at Bear Valley Visitor Center as of May 1st: Songbirds by Sylvia Gonzalez. The Great Blue Herons watercolors by Rich Sigberman wing out the door this weekend. Friday, April 22, 2011 Subject: Trail Closure Fowarded to Park Wavelengths subscribers:
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Celestial happenings abound over the next two weeks. The "Boiling Down Sap Moon" (tapping maple trees for syrup and sugar) for the Ojibway lights up the sky on Monday, April 18. Later that week, the Lyrid meteor shower peaks on Friday; late night watchers may see them in the northeastern sky. They originate near the star Vega in the Lyra constellation—a relatively close star only 25 light years away! Minus tides accompany the full moon in the early morning hours:
Clouds of lavender and blue Ceanothus shrubs burst into bloom last week—the latest bloomers. The deep purple of Douglas Iris is coloring the entrance of the Estero Trail; lighter lilac Hartweg's iris is also mixed in. Wildflowers are enjoying the spells of suns and rain! The last of the Northern Elephant seals linger at north [sic] Drakes Beach and a few sub-adults were wrestling in the water off the boathouse last weekend.Weekend, shuttle service ends for the 2011 season as of Sunday, April 17. The Youth Conservation Corps is recruiting teens from 15 to 18 for their summer 8 week work program in the park. Contact Bobbie Belvel at (415) 464-5112 for applications. |
Last updated: February 28, 2015