Tag Archives: P’da Hau

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This unusual bird, a Crested Caracara, has been seen near the P'da Hau, aka the Garcia River for several days. Rancher Larry Stornetta was the first to report its presence. Photographers Craig Tooley and Ron Bolander went looking for it Saturday, Jan. 27, and found it near the mouth of the river, hanging out with several resident Turkey Vultures. Here are some of Craig's photos of this very rare visitor here.

I had never heard of this bird before, but they are residents of Mexico and points south. Here's what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says about them:

"The Crested Caracara looks like a hawk with its sharp beak and talons, behaves like a vulture, and is technically a large tropical black-and-white falcon. It is instantly recognizable standing tall on long yellow-orange legs with a sharp black cap set against a white neck and yellow-orange face. The Crested Caracara is a bird of open country and reaches only a few states in the southern U.S. It flies low on flat wings, and routinely walks on the ground."

I read that these birds are mostly quiet but will give out a call if disturbed. Here is a link to hear the call of this bird: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Crested_Caracara/sounds

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is a link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com Craig and I made a beautiful book together, "Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year."

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Sara Bogard saw this Bald Eagle coming in for a landing on the sand by the P'Da Hau, aka the Garcia River.

I love how her shadow is seen in Sara's photo.

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

Sunny and mild here today!

 

 

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Mike Petrich and Karen Wilkinson were looking for nature sightings near the P'da Hau, aka the Garcia River recently. Mike wrote, “We looked up towards the Point Arena Lighthouse and photographed a Caspian Tern playing with its food in mid-air! I assembled an image from a series of individual pictures while it dropped the fish, and caught it again several times"

I didn't know Caspian Terns would do this - so interesting to learn! Here's a close-up Mike took of the Tern:

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

Foggy mornings, with some high clouds overhead - it's nice and mild on the Mendonoma Coast today.

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Members of the Manchester-Point Arena Band of Pomo Indians are trying to have the Garcia River renamed to the original Pomo name, which is P'da Hau. Since Rafael Garcia had a land grant in the mid-1800s and didn't even stay in the area long, it seems like a good idea to give the river back its original name. Rick and I were recently out on the northern portion of the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands and looked down from the bluff on the P'da Hau, watching it flow out into the ocean. Manchester Beach is to the north of the river.

Looking up river, we saw a River Otter come out of the river.

The Otter then proceeded to roll in the sand! Perhaps it was taking a sand bath.

After rolling several times, the River Otter headed back to the river, as if to say, "Okay, I'm done."

We also saw a family of Canada Geese, with young goslings, strolling alongside the river bank.

There is always something to see here on the Mendonoma coast!

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Peter Baye wrote, “I found a new rare plant at the Stornetta Lands along the P’da Hau [Garcia] River estuary last week, Humboldt Bay owl’s clover, Castilleja ambigua, subspecies humboldtiensis.”

Humboldt Bay owl's-clover, Castilleja ambigua humboldtiensis, by Peter Baye

This plant is found in tidal marsh locations and was originally thought to be endemic to Humboldt Bay, hence its common name. But it’s been found in Mendocino County at Big River. And now it’s been found at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands.

Peter wrote further, “The surprises of the Stornetta Land’s varied habitats have only been open to botanical exploration for a few years. Perhaps more botanical gems await discovery!”

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here. I look forward to new discoveries in the special Stornetta-Point Arena Lands.