The new year opened with the Quadrantid meteor shower, which ends today. It peaked on Jan. 3 but we may catch a few meteors this week. Late winter is quiet in terms of showers until the Lyrids in April.
The boys are back in town: Northern elephant seals continue to arrive on local beaches, and the first pup was noted in one of the Chimney Rock coves. So far, bulls have made occasional forays onto the Drake’s Beach area in front of the parking lot, but they don’t appear to be sticking around yet. The situation is dynamic, so if your plans include a Drake’s Beach walk, check about closures and observe the signs.
Whale watching is also part of the scene. Humpbacks have been seen in the distance from the lighthouse but not many southbound gray whales have appeared. The foggy and damp weather has made it difficult to pick out the spouts.
Visitor services, trails and beaches in the Point Reyes National Seashore will be open across the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. An annual reminder as stormy weather surrounds us: When reporting downed trees, the triad of information that’s needed is the type of tree, whether a hiker or equestrian can get around it, and an estimate of the size or width of the trunk. This information helps the park’s trail crew respond!