Around the coast, Halloween costumes come and go, but out in nature, some of the best disguises, characters, and seasonal surprises are on display year-round!
Take a closer look at Wavecrest Open Space and you might spot a few creatures perfectly suited for the season. The banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata), with its striking black, white, and golden stripes, spins an intricate web among the tall grasses. Its elaborate handiwork is part architectural marvel, part Halloween decoration, and a clever way to catch an unsuspecting meal!
And then there are the raptors. A red-tailed hawk soaring high above the coastal grasses is always a magnificent sight. But perhaps the most Halloween-worthy visitors are the white-tailed kites. When perched quietly in the trees or shrubs, their snowy white feathers and watchful presence make them look a little like friendly ghosts resting between flights. Thankfully, they're much more interested in hunting mice than haunting anyone!
Even the plants get in on the seasonal display. Coyote brush, now flowering across the coastal landscape, may look a little understated, but its late-season blooms are an important source of food for native insects when many other flowers have faded.
From intricate spiderwebs and ghostly white kites to soaring hawks and flowering coyote brush, Wavecrest is full of remarkable adaptations, unexpected characters, and a little bit of mystery.
This Halloween, we hope you find a moment to get outside, take a closer look, and appreciate some of the wonderfully strange and beautiful things sharing our coast.
Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and slightly spooky Halloween!