Monthly Archives: March 2012

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Debra Mundt was enjoying hiking at Hearn Gulch when she came across an early blooming wildflower. Wight's Paintbrush, Castilleja wightii, is a perennial herb. It is a California native and is only found in California. I thank Debra for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

To see a photo of the rare Mendocino Coast Indian Paintbrush, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/07/29/two-more-rare-wildflowers-found-at-ten-mile-dunes-by-peter-baye/

The Mendonoma Coast is experiencing a very wet storm today. The creek that runs through our property is doing its best imitation of a mighty river. After this series of storms is over wildflowers will burst into bloom on coastal bluffs. Hearn Gulch is a spot I'm definitely going to visit in the weeks to come.

To learn more about Hearn Gulch, here's a link to a previous post on this site: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/01/06/ive-just-fallen-in-love-with-hearn-gulch/

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Bettye Winters recently photographed a golden sunset with a contrail lit by the setting sun. Many commercial airlines travel just off the Coast, over the Pacific Ocean. This sunset must have been beautiful to see from that airplane!

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

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Peter Baye explored some of the tide pools at low tide at the Stornetta Public Lands. He found many wonders. One of them was a Gumboot Chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri, also called a Giant Pacific Chiton.

 And here is the underside of this large Chiton.

Gumboot Chitons eat algae, moving along rocks. They also eat sea lettuce and giant kelp. They can live up to forty years. It seems they have no predators to worry about. They are edible but apparently so unpalatable that one would have to be starving to eat it. "Rubbery" is how they are described.
To read about the wonderful Stornetta Public Lands, here's the link to a previous post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/02/18/low-tide-at-the-stornetta-public-lands-in-point-arena-breathtaking/

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Every winter for the past 17 years a wayward Laysan Albatross has over-wintered in the waters off the Point Arena Pier. Birders from all over the world come to the tiny city in hope of adding this bird to their life list. This year Al hasn't spent much time in the cove and we're not sure why. He, or she - we don't really know, is always absent when it is stormy, and today is very stormy here on the Mendonoma Coast!

Al has an affinity for surfers, often paddling over to "talk." Ken Holmes caught a photo of Al and a surfer and he's kindly allowed me to share it with you here.

There have been reports from fishermen that Al has been seen further north and several miles out. People in the Irish Beach/Elk areas should be on the look-out for this famous bird.

We know he/she is not a breeder as winter is when these large birds give birth. Ron LeValley was on Sand Island in the Midway Atoll, Hawaii on Feb. 7th. He photographed this Laysan Albatross mother as her egg hatched and has allowed me to share it with you here. So wonderful!

To see more of Ron's nature photography, here is his web site: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/
Last year Al left on March 28th so we know he'll be leaving us soon, hopefully to return again in late November or early December.

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Mark Hancock caught a beautiful photo of a Red-tailed Hawk resting in a tree with the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.

This is our most common Hawk. I love their call. You can hear it for yourself at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology web site using this link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/id/ac

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