August 5, 2005

A flock of several hundred Caspian Terns has been hanging around the lagoon at the mouth of the Salinas River. And, for reasons known only to itself, a solitary Black Skimmer has been hanging with them - it's at the center of this photo, in front of the nearest shrub.


Also on hand were a number of Avocets, still sporting their courtship colors.

You don't usually think of the beach being "in bloom" (or I don't), but the blossoms on this Beach Sagewort (Artemesia pycnocephala) suggest a new line of thought.

And here's Beach-burr (Ambrosia chamissonis) in bloom.

Big finish – another beach plant shows off. This succulent is Live Forever (Dudleya caespitosa).