Natalie Downe
@natbat.bsky.social
Enthusiastic adventurer, artist, potter, conservation technologist, tidepool guide, California naturalist, community organizer & frontend web developer. WU3M 🦇🦭🦀(🐺🐓🐇) #scicomm
Mastodon @natbat@wandering.shop
Twitter @natbat
Instagram @natbat & @natbat.art
Mastodon @natbat@wandering.shop
Twitter @natbat
Instagram @natbat & @natbat.art
First farmers market of the holiday season today!
I’m experimenting with a new booth layout, I added an extra 4ft table to the mix for that Z layout shape. Before, people would ask permission to come to see the back table & not as many did that as they did today.
This layout really worked!
I’m experimenting with a new booth layout, I added an extra 4ft table to the mix for that Z layout shape. Before, people would ask permission to come to see the back table & not as many did that as they did today.
This layout really worked!
November 9, 2025 at 1:13 AM
First farmers market of the holiday season today!
I’m experimenting with a new booth layout, I added an extra 4ft table to the mix for that Z layout shape. Before, people would ask permission to come to see the back table & not as many did that as they did today.
This layout really worked!
I’m experimenting with a new booth layout, I added an extra 4ft table to the mix for that Z layout shape. Before, people would ask permission to come to see the back table & not as many did that as they did today.
This layout really worked!
We were on a quest for rain beetles with my friend Ivan & his CDFW buddies. We didn’t find any this time but we did find lots of other cool critters including lots of little slender salamanders!
Rain beetles are California’s largest beetle! They emerge after the first rain ucanr.edu/blog/bug-squ...
Rain beetles are California’s largest beetle! They emerge after the first rain ucanr.edu/blog/bug-squ...
November 6, 2025 at 6:02 AM
We were on a quest for rain beetles with my friend Ivan & his CDFW buddies. We didn’t find any this time but we did find lots of other cool critters including lots of little slender salamanders!
Rain beetles are California’s largest beetle! They emerge after the first rain ucanr.edu/blog/bug-squ...
Rain beetles are California’s largest beetle! They emerge after the first rain ucanr.edu/blog/bug-squ...
I met my first California Red Legged Frog today!
November 6, 2025 at 5:51 AM
I met my first California Red Legged Frog today!
And we made it to the famous “witches house”, two sisters have been expertly carving pumpkins, dressing as witches and decorating their house for over thirty years!
November 1, 2025 at 5:17 AM
And we made it to the famous “witches house”, two sisters have been expertly carving pumpkins, dressing as witches and decorating their house for over thirty years!
We took part in another line dancing flash mob. Doing line dancing in the dark though is way way harder than I thought, especially with trick or treaters trying to get past!
November 1, 2025 at 5:09 AM
We took part in another line dancing flash mob. Doing line dancing in the dark though is way way harder than I thought, especially with trick or treaters trying to get past!
So it turns out Montara at Halloween is WILD!
What felt like thousands of people coming to a tiny coastal town; pedestrianised streets and most every house kitted out in Halloween lights and decorations. Live bands, raves and trick or treaters in costumes everywhere!
What felt like thousands of people coming to a tiny coastal town; pedestrianised streets and most every house kitted out in Halloween lights and decorations. Live bands, raves and trick or treaters in costumes everywhere!
November 1, 2025 at 5:05 AM
So it turns out Montara at Halloween is WILD!
What felt like thousands of people coming to a tiny coastal town; pedestrianised streets and most every house kitted out in Halloween lights and decorations. Live bands, raves and trick or treaters in costumes everywhere!
What felt like thousands of people coming to a tiny coastal town; pedestrianised streets and most every house kitted out in Halloween lights and decorations. Live bands, raves and trick or treaters in costumes everywhere!
Took part in a Halloween line dancing flash mob at a local pub in Half Moon Bay yesterday!
October 31, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Took part in a Halloween line dancing flash mob at a local pub in Half Moon Bay yesterday!
Discovered a new game to play with pocket gophers!…
Find an active gopher hole, wait till it pops its little head back inside, place some grasses you pic from nearby directly over its hole and wait… gopher snack!
Find an active gopher hole, wait till it pops its little head back inside, place some grasses you pic from nearby directly over its hole and wait… gopher snack!
October 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Discovered a new game to play with pocket gophers!…
Find an active gopher hole, wait till it pops its little head back inside, place some grasses you pic from nearby directly over its hole and wait… gopher snack!
Find an active gopher hole, wait till it pops its little head back inside, place some grasses you pic from nearby directly over its hole and wait… gopher snack!
I dressed as a nudibranch for Halloween at tap dancing class tonight!
(Simon is in a second hand-drag jacket from SF drag royalty)
(Simon is in a second hand-drag jacket from SF drag royalty)
October 28, 2025 at 5:44 AM
I dressed as a nudibranch for Halloween at tap dancing class tonight!
(Simon is in a second hand-drag jacket from SF drag royalty)
(Simon is in a second hand-drag jacket from SF drag royalty)
Big night in small town Half Moon Bay, it’s drive in movie night at the local high school!
October 26, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Big night in small town Half Moon Bay, it’s drive in movie night at the local high school!
I made and folded a little booklet that I attached mini bags of haribo to and handed them out at the #nokings rally in Half Moon Bay today.
Printable: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kd92p...
The phone numbers are specific to the CA Bay Area, let me know if you want the Canva template I made.
Printable: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kd92p...
The phone numbers are specific to the CA Bay Area, let me know if you want the Canva template I made.
October 19, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I made and folded a little booklet that I attached mini bags of haribo to and handed them out at the #nokings rally in Half Moon Bay today.
Printable: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kd92p...
The phone numbers are specific to the CA Bay Area, let me know if you want the Canva template I made.
Printable: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kd92p...
The phone numbers are specific to the CA Bay Area, let me know if you want the Canva template I made.
Today’s episode of “what is that chicken doing?”: Olive has a dust bath…
October 16, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Today’s episode of “what is that chicken doing?”: Olive has a dust bath…
I always love the entertainment too, we get free donuts and coffee from Safeway and Jim Stevens is the best pumpkin bard!
The local brass band plays and local celeb Cameron from Cameron’s Inn and local radio personality Marcus from Star 101.3 MC the event and tell very bad pumpkin jokes 🎃
The local brass band plays and local celeb Cameron from Cameron’s Inn and local radio personality Marcus from Star 101.3 MC the event and tell very bad pumpkin jokes 🎃
October 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I always love the entertainment too, we get free donuts and coffee from Safeway and Jim Stevens is the best pumpkin bard!
The local brass band plays and local celeb Cameron from Cameron’s Inn and local radio personality Marcus from Star 101.3 MC the event and tell very bad pumpkin jokes 🎃
The local brass band plays and local celeb Cameron from Cameron’s Inn and local radio personality Marcus from Star 101.3 MC the event and tell very bad pumpkin jokes 🎃
Congrats to Brandon Dawson who won the Half Moon Bay Giant pumpkin weighoff yesterday with a 2346lb (1064.128kg) pumpkin!
It’s always such a fun day, the weather held out (before the epic rain last night!) and all the pumpkins were fabulous!
It’s always such a fun day, the weather held out (before the epic rain last night!) and all the pumpkins were fabulous!
October 14, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Congrats to Brandon Dawson who won the Half Moon Bay Giant pumpkin weighoff yesterday with a 2346lb (1064.128kg) pumpkin!
It’s always such a fun day, the weather held out (before the epic rain last night!) and all the pumpkins were fabulous!
It’s always such a fun day, the weather held out (before the epic rain last night!) and all the pumpkins were fabulous!
Where are you getting your pretty radar maps?
I’m supposed to be in the calm between the blobs but it’s still hectic rain right now!
I’m supposed to be in the calm between the blobs but it’s still hectic rain right now!
October 13, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Where are you getting your pretty radar maps?
I’m supposed to be in the calm between the blobs but it’s still hectic rain right now!
I’m supposed to be in the calm between the blobs but it’s still hectic rain right now!
The after party had tasty food and some horsey demonstrations, including: a polo match, dressage and “vaulting” which is basically gymnastics ON A MOVING HORSE!!!
whoa94062.org/trail-ride/
whoa94062.org/trail-ride/
October 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The after party had tasty food and some horsey demonstrations, including: a polo match, dressage and “vaulting” which is basically gymnastics ON A MOVING HORSE!!!
whoa94062.org/trail-ride/
whoa94062.org/trail-ride/
It turns out I don’t own anything beige at all because I spend a lot of time scrubbing around in the dirt. (Making ceramics, as a naturalist & we have a mini farm)
Instead I wore a sparkly leopard print jacket that I got from a drag queen royalty sale from a queen that was retiring in San Francisco
Instead I wore a sparkly leopard print jacket that I got from a drag queen royalty sale from a queen that was retiring in San Francisco
October 12, 2025 at 3:57 PM
It turns out I don’t own anything beige at all because I spend a lot of time scrubbing around in the dirt. (Making ceramics, as a naturalist & we have a mini farm)
Instead I wore a sparkly leopard print jacket that I got from a drag queen royalty sale from a queen that was retiring in San Francisco
Instead I wore a sparkly leopard print jacket that I got from a drag queen royalty sale from a queen that was retiring in San Francisco
Such an enjoyable day hanging out with old and new friends. My friend Judy invited me and her housemate Michael and her friend Catherine joined us on our booth.
October 12, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Such an enjoyable day hanging out with old and new friends. My friend Judy invited me and her housemate Michael and her friend Catherine joined us on our booth.
The costumes were great, naturally there were a fair amount of zebras and giraffes!
October 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The costumes were great, naturally there were a fair amount of zebras and giraffes!
I learnt a lot about horses! My favourite species were the Clydesdale and the Gypsy banner which had furry feet and the Icelandic ones which were so fluffy!
October 12, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I learnt a lot about horses! My favourite species were the Clydesdale and the Gypsy banner which had furry feet and the Icelandic ones which were so fluffy!
I really enjoyed volunteering at yesterday’s “day of the horse” in Woodside.
It’s basically trick or treat for horses, they ride a trail all through the horse park and the town and at each station the humans get a raffle ticket and the horses get a treat!
I petted and fed nearly a hundred horses!!
It’s basically trick or treat for horses, they ride a trail all through the horse park and the town and at each station the humans get a raffle ticket and the horses get a treat!
I petted and fed nearly a hundred horses!!
October 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I really enjoyed volunteering at yesterday’s “day of the horse” in Woodside.
It’s basically trick or treat for horses, they ride a trail all through the horse park and the town and at each station the humans get a raffle ticket and the horses get a treat!
I petted and fed nearly a hundred horses!!
It’s basically trick or treat for horses, they ride a trail all through the horse park and the town and at each station the humans get a raffle ticket and the horses get a treat!
I petted and fed nearly a hundred horses!!
Such a beautiful sunny day for a harvest festival at the Alpaca farm!
If you want to enjoy some great music & food and shop some local crafts & art; come to Montara today!
You can also take selfies with the Alpacas 🦙🦙 maps.app.goo.gl/y4dh7hUdS5De...
If you want to enjoy some great music & food and shop some local crafts & art; come to Montara today!
You can also take selfies with the Alpacas 🦙🦙 maps.app.goo.gl/y4dh7hUdS5De...
October 4, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Such a beautiful sunny day for a harvest festival at the Alpaca farm!
If you want to enjoy some great music & food and shop some local crafts & art; come to Montara today!
You can also take selfies with the Alpacas 🦙🦙 maps.app.goo.gl/y4dh7hUdS5De...
If you want to enjoy some great music & food and shop some local crafts & art; come to Montara today!
You can also take selfies with the Alpacas 🦙🦙 maps.app.goo.gl/y4dh7hUdS5De...
Great show yesterday at Make it Main St. The live music was super chill & I loved the pupusa food tent for dinner. We even had a performance from a group of Mexican Hula dancers 💃
Pots that came straight out of the kiln in the morning sold really well and the ceramic jewelery was super popular too!
Pots that came straight out of the kiln in the morning sold really well and the ceramic jewelery was super popular too!
October 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Great show yesterday at Make it Main St. The live music was super chill & I loved the pupusa food tent for dinner. We even had a performance from a group of Mexican Hula dancers 💃
Pots that came straight out of the kiln in the morning sold really well and the ceramic jewelery was super popular too!
Pots that came straight out of the kiln in the morning sold really well and the ceramic jewelery was super popular too!
I’ll be selling ceramics in downtown HMB today 3-7pm at Make it Main st.
Come find me near Kelly & Main!
Come find me near Kelly & Main!
October 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I’ll be selling ceramics in downtown HMB today 3-7pm at Make it Main st.
Come find me near Kelly & Main!
Come find me near Kelly & Main!
Olive now happily uses the nest box to lay her new green eggs.
The ones I found were large so I’m still not sure if she laid her first fairy eggs somewhere in the garden but she is comfortable with the nest box now at least!
The ones I found were large so I’m still not sure if she laid her first fairy eggs somewhere in the garden but she is comfortable with the nest box now at least!
October 1, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Olive now happily uses the nest box to lay her new green eggs.
The ones I found were large so I’m still not sure if she laid her first fairy eggs somewhere in the garden but she is comfortable with the nest box now at least!
The ones I found were large so I’m still not sure if she laid her first fairy eggs somewhere in the garden but she is comfortable with the nest box now at least!