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A week ago Tuesday, sightings of these talkative geese came flooding in. The Aleutian Cackling Geese are on the move in huge numbers. Eric Zetterholm photographed this huge skein.

That Sunday Carolyn Case found more passing by, this time on a sunny day, flying over Gualala Point Island.

It's interesting that the two photos look like they are going both north and south, but it's all about where the photographer was standing.

The numbers of the Aleutian Cackling Geese have special meaning for Doug  Forsell, formerly a migratory seabird biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Doug wrote, “Quite a few flocks passing over my house today. I counted about 3,400 geese flying by in two and a half hours including one flock of about 1,400 birds. I think that is the largest flock I've seen. That one flock was four times the entire population of Aleutian Cackling Geese in the early 1970's, when they were put on the endangered species list.” Foxes had been introduced to the islands with devastating results to the nesting geese. Doug was part of the successful effort to save them from extinction, something to be very proud of.

Some people mistake these geese for Canada Geese. Here's a closer look, photo by Sara Bogard.

From the web I found this graphic showing the difference between the two birds

Thanks to Eric, Carolyn, and Sara for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Lots of rain yesterday, 1.42 inches in our gauge. Some showers passed by this morning, with sun reappearing in the afternoon. Another storm tomorrow! Over 52 inches season to date!

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Cloud watching is a Mendonoma Coast tradition. See the clouds build up before a storm is a treat. Michelle Gill photographed this beautiful scene of prefrontal stratocumulus clouds.

Thanks to Michelle for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Today  is clear and sunny. Rain coming in tomorrow! Maybe we'll see some similar clouds later today.

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It's not unheard of to have an Elephant Seal here, but it doesn't happen too often. And when one appears, it's always on the beach, the sand. But not this big fellow. Traci Segelstrom wrote, “Here’s ‘Gus’ the Elephant Seal at Anchor Bay Campground.  He has completely stolen my heart. Who even knew Elephant Seals had eyebrows?!”

Paula Stillman also photographed him. She wrote, “This Elephant Seal picked campsite 33 to chill and relax for awhile. Apparently he’s a regular around here.”

Last week Mark Vanderwoude also found the big Elephant Seal in residence. He wrote this fun story.

“I was at the Anchor Bay Campground this morning and it appears that Mr. Elephant Seal has commandeered Spaces 32 and 33 without a reservation, and has no intention of paying. He isn't very friendly and the staff has no intention of inviting him to leave any time soon. Seeing is believing when campers with reservations are told of his disregard for their reservations, they now understand why ... he's huge!”

Mark also pointed out the many scars on this Elephant Seal’s back.

While resting on the beach, or favored campsite, Elephant Seals fast, living off their blubber. Dogs will need to be kept on leashes while this big fellow is in residence.

Thanks to Traci, Paula and Mark for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

A wait-five-minutes kind of day. Showers, sunshine, downpours, wind, roiling clouds - the Mendonoma Coast has a little bit of it all today. Nearly two inches of rain from the storms.

 

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The Doe found a nice place to shelter from a recent storm, under a Cypress tree on The Sea Ranch.

I wonder if she is under there again today, Friday, because it's been pouring rain!

Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

The rain started mid-morning this Friday. Well over 3/4 of an inch so far, and it's still raining as I type this post!

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There was a nice break in the stormy weather this several weeks ago, though dark clouds occasionally blocked the welcome sunshine. Those dark clouds brought rainbows. Mark Hancock photographed an unusual one near the Point Arena Lighthouse. He wrote, “I've never seen such a flat rainbow, it was so vivid and right above Arena Rock off the Lighthouse Peninsula.  Really beautiful. I made sure everyone on my staff took a look and they all agreed it was pretty unique.”

Such a low rainbow is rare. I learned that the position of the sun in the sky plays the crucial role in determining the height, or lack thereof, at which the rainbow appears. As the sun climbs higher, the rainbow drops lower. We usually see rainbow in the mornings, and sometimes in the late afternoon.

You can see sights like this at the Point Arena Lighthouse. Learn more about it at this link: https://www.pointarenalighthouse.com/

Thanks to Mark for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Clouds this morning, sunny this afternoon, with rain arrived early tomorrow, Friday. Maybe we'll have more rainbows!