I appreciate!! So, the last week of outdoor school 2008 was amazing with the children from Rancho Romero. The full moon cast beautiful moonshadows on us all and the staff at the outdoor school was a mix of old natties and new. Thank you Mountain and Millipede for coming to visit us in the Pescadero Valley, your old home.

The days were warm in the sun but the nights were very chilly. We actually had our first hard frost on Monday night, 12/8/08 — pretty late for a hard frost. Full moon brought really low tides in the afternoon so the kids were able to go far out on the reef to explore the tide pools. Check out the list below, which once I again I must give love to our faithful naturalist Bobcat for being the senses of the forest. He is an amazing person and an incredible naturalist. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy his expertise and kindness.

Hot Spot:

Fungus:
1) Manzanita Bolete
2) King Bolete
3) cup fungus
4) Suillus varieties
5) Leucopaxillus
6) Midnight Blue Entoloma
7) Boring Brown Bolete

Birds:
1) Chickadee
2) Sharp Shinned Hawk
3) Coopers Hawk
4) American Kestrel
5) Red Shouldered Hawk
6) W. Grebe
7) Pintail
8) Northern Shovelers
9) Dead Pelican
10) Black Turnstones
11) Black Shouldered Kite
12) Juvenile Red Tail Hawk
13) Black Oystercatchers
14) Greater yellowlegs
15) N. Flicker
16) Heard a Barn Owl

Tide Pools Creatures:
1) Black Abalone
2) Bat stars
3) Brittle Star
4) Barnacles
5) Sea anemones
6) limpets
7) Leatherback Sea Star

Marine Mammal:
1) Whale
2) harbor seals

Other:
1) Ensantina
2) Our duck was killed probably by coyote

So, it is the end of outdoor school 2008 and I am heading to Baja and Joshua Tree for the break. I am excited to escape to warmer climates for the break but will be back with renewed inspiration for the winter season. Much love and respect, Burl