Confused from the last column about when to see the lunar eclipse? The best time to view it was Sunday, and I didn’t make that clear since I referred to the full moon on Monday, when it was officially full. I’ll get the moment correct for the next lunar eclipse in November. This month, the moon will look particularly full on June 14, a so-called super moon when the moon is at perigee, or closest to earth.
The late wildflower species have appeared, nudging us toward summer, including Clarkia amoena—also called farewell-to-spring—which look like pink poppies with a dash of scarlet in the center.
Bird nesting season is in full swing with two species of note: snowy plovers and northern spotted owls. This year, the plovers are enjoying an unusual early season, and early nests have successfully hatched chicks. Typically, early nests have not done as well as later ones. Snowy plover protective measures are in place along Great Beach. The dense forest covering is supporting 22 active spotted owl nests, including nine unsuccessful nests and 18 that are indeterminate. More news will come as the monitoring continues.