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A flashback to paradise! Pictured is a #golddustdaygecko avidly hunting for small insects in Hilo, Hawai’i. This brightly colored #gecko was treat to watch for its vivid colors and fearless antics while catching inverts. While doing some quick research online, we were surprised to learn from @mauiinvasive that the entire Hawaiian population of this colorful species originated from just 8 individuals released near the University of Hawai’i, Mānoa campus in 1974. Their diet and foraging behavior is understood (omnivorous and hunt during the day, hence “day” gecko); however, their impacts on Hawaiian environments is not yet understood.

Indian paintbrush blooming along the edge of the trail at Salt Point State Park. Dan and I took a trip to the Bodega Bay area in late March 2019. It was my first time visiting. The drive up was winding coastal highways with rolling green hills being grazed by cattle. We arrived at our destination - Salt Point SP - right before sunset. This was just enough time to high-tail it down the trail to enjoy the blooming wildflowers (Indian paintbrush, pictured, and my favorite — lupine!). As we made our way along the hike, we were met with views of a few breaching gray whales. This photo captures the Pacific view and the trail illuminated by the setting sun.

Happy Wednesday, everybody! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week so far and have found time to enjoy the outdoors. Pictured are beautiful coast redwood trees and a blanket of ferns obscuring the trail at Redwood National and State Parks. This isolated part of CA is a ways away from the Bay Area BUT the highway going North along the coast is breathtaking and historical. We took a long weekend nestled up in these woods last July. The entire trip we were in awe of the magic of the foggy trails and old-growth trees. 🌿☁️

Hello from the hike up Montana Mountain! This hike offers sweeping views of the coast and Bay Area, so Dan and I set off to see the sights fall of last year. On the way up, the trails offer a chance to see species unique to this type of habitat. Keep an eye out for rare plant and insect species, including the Montana manzanita. While we had gorgeous views, we never reached the peak of mountain. Instead, we climbed to the radio towers below. The true peak is closed off, as it hosts the endangered San Bruno elfin butterfly. Even without reaching the peak though, this hike was gorgeous and well worth the climb.

Hello from Windy Hill Open Space Preserve in Portola Valley, CA! We wanted to start the year off with a hike last weekend, so we found ourselves walking up steep forest paths that led to gorgeous rolling hillsides. Near the summit (pictured), the fog rolling through the trees gave the view a mysterious aura. It was definitely worth the climb. Have you all started your 2020 hiking? Feel free to comment with your favorite spots!

Wishing you all a happy new year! May 2020 be filled with many more adventures, hikes, and awesome nature. . Pictured are just a few visible common dolphins. These were a part of a “mega pod” of 2,000 dolphins observed on our boat coming back from the Channel Islands in late December 2019. This was a truly fantastic chance to see a pretty decent proportion of the Santa Barbara Channel area’s population of about 25,000. That said, the number we observed is an estimate - for every 1 dolphin seen above water, 7 additional individuals were estimated to be below the surface. It was a magical experience seeing the sunset waters absolutely churning with dolphin activity, and is a positive indicator for the health of the Santa Barbara Channel. Although we’re a bit further from the Bay, we loved experiencing some #SoCal nature. Thanks @islandpackers for the amazing trip!

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