[EBB Sightings] Saturday on Delphinus

Saturday's lighthouse tour upon the Delphinus with
Captain Ronn Patterson provided more than a
fascinating history and tour of the bay and it's
lighthouses.
 
On the birding end of things, the most stunning sight
was a raft of possibly 1,000s of Clark's and Western
grebes that stretched approximately two miles along
the interior edge of what I believe is called Bonita
bay (the shallow inlet east from Point Bonita heading
toward the gate).  I truly could barely comprehend
what I was seeing and don't think that I have
collectively in my entire life seen so many grebes.
Ronn was discussing a visible conflux of water where a
foam line had developed between two distinctly
different bodies of water.  Apparently water coming in
from the Pacific was mixing with water coming out from
the bay and delta, both with different temperatures,
life forms and other characteristics, that when mixed
create a rich kind of watery stew.
Other than the protection the birds enjoyed in this
relatively quiet inlet, I wonder if the stirring of
the water had attracted them as well, although most of
them were sitting quietly on the surface.
Another exciting sighting was a Harbor Seal with a
bright rusty orange pelt.  I've spent plenty of time
on and in the water and have never seen this (although
Ronn said that he has on occasion).  I assume some
kind of recessive gene situation.
 
Thank you Ronn for another exciting and enlightening
(pardon the pun) day out on the beautiful Delphinus.
 
Pamela Llewellyn