Monthly Archives: July 2013
Unlikely Ocean Relatives
Not all gelatinous, transparent animals floating in the ocean are jellies. Some of the most fascinating of these animals are actually tunicates called Salps. This means they are Chordates and are more closely related to me than to jellies! They … Continue reading
The Black and White Clownfish Have Eggs Again
Our black and white Ocellaris Clownfish have eggs again and they are such fun to watch. These Clownfish are the same species as the often more familiar orange and white Clownfish as in The movie Finding Nemo. The black and … Continue reading
A Guided Walk Around San Elijo
Last Saturday I went for a guided walk on the Rios Trail at San Elijo Lagoon. I wanted to learn more about some of the habitats surrounding the lagoon. The docent leading the walk was very knowledgeable and I learnt … Continue reading
Summer in San Elijo Lagoon: Raccoons
Even in the heat and silence of mid-day there is a surprising amount of activity on the short loop trail by the Visitor Center at San Elijo Lagoon. Some birds are busy collecting food for their young. Lizards are out … Continue reading
Black Jellies
The mysterious Black Jellies are back in the news. These large maroon colored jellies are turning up every Summer on Southern California beaches in recent years. Before 1989 they were rarely seen and were not scientifically described until 1997! This … Continue reading
Beautiful Desert Near San Diego
In the hills above Ramona in San Diego County lies beautiful desert country. I went for a walk there last weekend. It was hot and and still even in the early morning. Lovely vistas of Chaparral and bare boulders. The … Continue reading
Birds at San Diego Zoo
We are very lucky to have a world class zoo in San Diego. I greatly admire their conservation and education programs. I went there recently and focused on some of the birds. Seeing some of these magnificent species up close … Continue reading
NaturalistNotebook 