After the Leonid meteor shower peaks on Nov. 17 with about 15 shooting stars an hour, Thanksgiving week arrives with a super moon. The Nov. 24 full moon will appear larger and bring extra-high tides of 6 to 7 feet—or likely higher, with the effects of El Niño and any heavy rain. This will be good for returning fish but not so much for roads or beachcombing. Check tide charts before heading out on nature explorations!
Autumn is not much of a blooming time of year, but one native shrub is covered with fuzzy blossoms: the pale-yellow fluff of low-growing coyote brush, whose male and female plants cross-pollinate. The seeds spread in wind, and the rain-dampened soil promotes growth.
Some positive news about coho salmon in Olema Creek: National seashore crews believe there are an estimated 6,000 young smolts over an eight-mile stretch, based on recent counts. They will face the effects of winter storms, which can wash out gravel nesting areas even as heavy rainfall helps spawners move upstream out of the ocean.