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The rut - the mating season - of the Black-tailed Deer has commenced. John Meyer got this beautiful photo of a Doe running with the ocean in the background. She very well could be running from a randy Buck.

Eric Zetterholm watched and photographed as a Buck approached a more willing Doe.

Eric told me the Buck did mount the Doe. It's time to drive a little more carefully while these big Bucks only have one thing on their minds!

Thanks to John and Eric for allowing me to share their photos with you here!

Warm and muggy this morning with overhead clouds. Hot this afternoon as the clouds have disappeared for the most part.

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At the Point Arena Pier recently this CA Sea Lion decided to use the ramp at the pier to check things out. Surely the big fellow gave a bark of approval before heading back to sea.

There is a large colony of male Sea Lions on Fish Rocks off Anchor Bay. They bark at each other - talking, I assume - pretty much all the time. One of the oceanfront estates there is called "Barking Rocks."

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

The fog returned overnight and really cooled things off today. Warmer weather coming in, especially for Saturday!

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Craig Tooley was at Gualala Point Regional Park when he saw this sight.

I believe that's a Lingcod that the Harbor Seal caught for its dinner.

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

oooo, warm - no, HOT weather has moved in and the fog is AWOL. Our annual autumn heatwave has begun. It gives you the chance to see a green flash if you are lucky enough to be on the Mendonoma Coast!

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Don't you think this is the most perfect photo? Perry Hoffman caught magic when he photographed this oh-so-graceful Great Blue Heron flying low along the Gualala River.

Great Blue Herons are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast.

Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share this beautiful photo with you here!

There have been a lot of clouds today, keeping the temps mild, in the 60's. No wind, though!

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Yes, Bottlenose Dolphins have been seen off our coast. They include the matriarch, Sakura! Shari Goforth got photos last week.

This pod was seen again a few days ago off the Point Arena Lighthouse and headed south. Both Shari and Sara Bogard got photos, which I hope to share soon.

In Shari's photo above there appears to be a young one!

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

It's beautiful here today, low 70's.