Salamander

I must interrupt the cruise to bring you an image of a creature Hans & I encountered on our Bear Valley walk yesterday, an animal new to us. It sat so still as we photographed it that we finally wondered if it might be plastic; but a little tickling with a piece of dried grass caused a slight movement. Some passing Park Rangers identified it as a Pacific Giant Salamander and told us it can get twice the size of this 10-inch specimen. It's unusual for it to be on the dry path in daylight, so we scored yesterday! It eventually scampered off into the grass.

Grebe

Thursday morning Corte Madera Creek was filled with birds: ducks, geese, avocets and one lone grebe.

Yesterday's salamander is probably a Rough-skinned Newt; thanks to Master Gardener Katie M. for this info. Newts are members of the salamander family but identifying it as a newt is more accurate. For more info see http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/t.granulosa.html

Wild animal

Well, maybe not so wild . . . but definitely an animal. Tuesday morning about 9:30 a salamander lay sunning on the Bear Valley Trail. I could see him/her breathing but he hadn't warmed up enough to run away as I walked all around him and took this close-up photo.