Keyhole Arch at Sunset, Big Sur, California, December 4, 2023

 We heard about this phenomenon over a year ago and were looking forward to seeing and photographing and videographing this effect for ourselves. During the winter season, the setting sun lines up with the opening in Keyhole Arch, a sea arch at Pfeiffer Beach in the Big Sur area. We checked on the azimuth of the setting sun during the dates that were recommended in an online article from a couple of years ago and then checked with timeanddate.com to see when the sun would be setting at that same angle before the winter solstice.

We ventured to Pfeiffer Beach on December 3, 2023, but the skies were cloudy and only saw a white glow through the arch from the sun. The next day December 4th was clear and we were able to see the setting sun cast this fiery glow through the arch.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Marbled Godwit foraging on Monterey Beach

A marbled godwit foraging along San Carlos Beach in Monterey, California.  This shorebird uses its long bill to probe in the sand for invertebrates to feed on. We visited the coast at Monterey after a storm had stirred up the ocean and there were many shorebirds out foraging.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Heermann's gull drinking fresh water on a Monterey, California beach

Heermann's gulls are distinguished by their dark red bills and dark legs. This gull was drinking fresh water that came off the streets of Monterey, California, and flowed down onto the beach. Several other birds were taking advantage of the runoff, too. This beach is San Carlos Beach, next to Monterey's Breakwater, famous among SCUBA divers in California. It's also where we went for a field trip while in college to practice diving for our certification. We had intended to dive the time we got this picture, but a storm had just passed and another was on the way, so the ocean was too stirred up for diving and getting good pictures. The lady at the dive shop described the water clarity as "pea soup", so we didn't go diving but looked for wildlife along the coast.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!