Tag Archives: Mendonoma coast

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Roger Rude with big abalone

This is what it is like to dive for Abalone off the Mendonoma Coast as told by Roger Rude.

"I was just finishing up a spectacular dive in a new area for me along The Sea Ranch. I had been in the 46.8 degree water for 2½ hours, having a hard time making myself leave such a splendid magical place. The visibility in the water was near 30 feet, which is remarkable for this coastline. In my quest for a trophy-sized abalone of more than 10 inches I had measured at least a dozen that were a fraction of an inch short.

"It didn’t matter to me as I was mesmerized by the beauty of the sea. Purple sea urchins occupied every available nook or hole in the rocks. Red, orange and blue star fish were on their slow patrol looking for food. Blue rock fish darted around me. Algae of every color intermingled with sea grass and kelp. Light danced off of everything refracted by the ever undulating surface. The sounds of sea life popping and clicking beneath the surface provided the soundtrack. “Beautiful” falls far short as a description of what I was experiencing.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA                            Photo by Ken Bailey
"Alas, reality began to force its way back into my awareness. I was cold, tired, and my muscles were beginning to rebel at the constant exertion, warning me with the first hints of cramping. Reluctantly, I head toward our exit point in the rocks, a place where deep water touches a shallow rock ledge where I can wait for the right wave to lift me up and out of the sea.

"As I swim, I continue to marvel at the sights below me, though tired I occasionally stop to lower my abalone iron, on the end of a float line, to measure a large abalone on the bottom 20 feet away, while I am still on the surface. Rare conditions indeed.
"When I reach my exit point, I begin to stow all of my gear back in the dive bag on my dive board. While I am doing this, a small form, about the size of a cat, appears next to me and begins to climb up on my board. Startled at first, I recognize it is a baby harbor seal. I sit motionless and watch as it climbs half way up, looks around with curiosity and slides back into the water. I watch it under water as it comes over to explore me. I see mom about 15 feet away, keeping her eye on her pup but not appearing alarmed. The pup nuzzles me, and I cannot resist gently stroking the top of its head. After a few moments, the pup rejoins its mother as if excited to report what it had discovered.

"Enchanted by the encounter I forget the camera in my dive bag.
Leaving them as they watch me, I catch my wave onto my ledge and climb out of the water, not unlike a seal, lying in a spot sheltered from the wind to warm myself in the sun. When I look up, a mother whale and her calf surface just off shore, so close as if to say 'are you sure you want to get out now?'

"I love the sea and all that it encompasses. This is why I abalone dive. Occasionally I take one and feed family and friends, but that is secondary. It is the experience, an experience I can only liken to spiritual."

I thank Roger for telling his story so we can vicariously experience what is like to dive when conditions are so wonderful. And thanks to him for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Abalone season opens up August 1st.

It is said Bobcats are nocturnal but they are often seen in the daylight here on the Coast. Siegfried Matull recently photographed a Bobcat on the hunt, with one paw up in the air. Looks like the cat with the tufted ears and bobbed tail has found a tasty rodent.

Bobcat with a vole by Siegfried Matull

And the Bobcat was successful, nabbing a Vole.

Bobcat catches a Vole by Siegfried Matull

Here is one of my favorite Bobcat photos, also taken by Siegfried.

Bobcat Face by Siegfried Matull

Bobcats are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast and they bring a touch of wild nature into our lives.

Thanks to Siegfried for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Craig Tooley caught this Anna's Hummingbird glowing from the sunlight, showing the subtle colors of this tiny bird.

Anna's Hummingbird by Craig Tooley

Anna's Hummingbirds are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. Here is another photo of one that Craig took - this is a male. This photo appears in my book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout The Year.

Male Anna's Hummingbird MARCH by Craig Tooley

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much, much more of Craig's wildlife photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

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Welcome storms have been hitting the Mendonoma Coast. Those who love big crashing waves head for the bluffs to take a look at the Pacific Ocean in action. Between storms can bring some of the loveliest weather. Janet Burch recently photographed some beautiful waves off of The Sea Ranch.

The Gualala River is running high and muddy, such a welcome sight. After our bone dry January, the rains of February have been a blessing. May they continue in March!

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

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Photographers on the Mendonoma Coast love to photograph the beautiful waves. We are always searching for the perfect wave. Here are several photos taken recently. The first is from Paul Brewer.

Margaret Lindgren photographed this big wave splashing up onto the rocky bluff.

And Robert Scarola took this photo of a big wave coming in. That Gull better watch out!

Thanks to Robert, Margaret and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
To see more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/
And Margaret's website for coastal hikes is: http://unbeatenpath.weebly.com/