The new moon rises on Thursday, Sept. 10 with extra low tides before sunrise. The corresponding moderate high tides will come mostly at midday.
More signs of seasonal changes are around us. The western snowy plover nesting season ends as these threatened shorebirds move into their winter flocks along the California coast. The largest local group may be seen at Abbott’s Lagoon, and the newest flock is near the mouth of Drake’s Estero. Some plovers remain here year-round; park scientists have noted a resident 12-year-old male at North Beach whose neighbor overwinters in Mexico and returns in spring.
September also brings the tule elk breeding season, known as the rut. Dominant males are beginning to attract and gather females into harems that they will defend. Defensive behavior may include bugling—a warning sound—or head butting to discourage other bulls from approaching harems. Among other ways they attract females, bulls urinate on brush and then roll in it. This behavior may result in garlands of plant material draped over their antlers.
The edible berry season for us humans is winding down, but winter berries for animals are ripening, including coffeeberry shrubs with their dark-purple clusters. National park visitor centers, the lighthouse, roads, and trails remain open through Labor Day weekend.