Solstice greetings from all of us at Bay Nature! To celebrate the first day of winter, we’ve gathered some of our favorite signs of the season to be found along Bay Area trails, in our parks, and along the coast! We hope it will inspire you to make your own local winter discoveries. Monarch Butterfly Favorite of: Contributing Editor Alison Hawkes Photo: Becky Jaffe Bufflehead Duck Favorite of: Office Manager Jenny Stampp Photo: Marlin Harms
Bufflehead duck, a charismatic winter visitor to Bay Area lakes and bays. Photo: Marlin Harms
The bufflehead is a tiny, charismatic winter visitor to the Bay Area’s lakes and bays.
  Townsend’s Warbler Favorite of: Publisher David Loeb Illustration: John Muir Laws Townsend's warbler. Illustration: John Muir Laws 2009   Pacific Herring Favorite of: Editorial Director Eric Simons Photo: Paul Nicklen Pacific herring. Photo: Paul Nicklen   Ladybugs Favorite of: Associate Director Judith Katz Photo: Davor Desancic
Convergent ladybugs cluster on a branch in Oakland's Redwood Regional Park.
Convergent ladybugs cluster on a branch in Oakland’s Redwood Regional Park.
  California Sea Otter Favorite of: Development Associate Katy Yeh Photo: Sstasi
California sea otter. Photo: Sstasi
A California sea otter floats off Moss Landing.
  Rain Favorite of: IT/Web Development Manager Laurence Tietz Photo: Garry Hayes Cascading waterfall photo by Garry Hayes   California Newt Favorite of: Marketing Director Beth Slatkin Photo: Matt Knoth
California newt. Photo: Matt Knoth
A California newt explores his surroundings, Marin Headlands
  Elephant Seal Favorite of: Editor in Chief Victoria Schlesinger Photo: Victoria Schlesinger
An elephant seal makes landfall at Añ Nuevo State Reserve.
An elephant seal makes landfall at Ano Nuevo State Reserve.
        Great Egret Favorite of: Advertising Director Ellen Weis Photo: Richard Blair
Great egret photo: Richard Blair
A Great Egret hunts in Bolinas Lagoon.