Monthly Archives: February 2017

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We soared past 50 inches of rain at our place in Anchor Bay. That's our average rainfall for the entire year! So it's not a surprise that waterfalls would be flowing beautifully now. Mel Smith took a hike on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands recently and photographed this waterfall.

Mel was out on a rare sunny day, as we've had storm after storm roll in. This weekend is predicted to be sunny and mild, a perfect time to visit the coast. To find this waterfall, here is a link to a previous post with directions: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/06/15/a-hidden-waterfall-on-the-stornetta-public-lands-in-mendocino-county/

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

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Hearn Gulch is such a beautiful spot, with a sea tunnel and a blowhole. Eric Duff recently photographed the scene at sunset.

Here is a photo Eric took a while ago that shows the sea tunnel with the setting sun shining through it.

And here's a photo of mine of the blowhole in action.

You find Hearn Gulch just north of Iversen Road in Mendocino County. Parking is along Highway One at mile marker 10.0. To learn more, here is the link to the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy: http://www.rclc.org/

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

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Cece Case and Eric Nordvold went for a hike at Bowling Ball Beach several weeks ago, and they found something interesting tossed up on the beach. Cece wrote, “Eric found a large fishing float with a Japanese name on it – Musashi. I read on the Internet that identical ones had been found in British Columbia and Washington state.

“The one in Washington had been traced to a Japanese oyster farming area that had been affected by the tsunami. I remember there was someone tracking tsunami debris, so please forward this to them.”

We haven't learned if this is tsunami debris. The California current brings items from halfway around the world to occasionally land on one of our beaches. One of the strangest items found was this intact light bulb, possibly tossed off a fishing boat. It was found by Gary Humfeld.

Just after a storm is the perfect time to search beaches for treasures from afar.

Thanks to Cece and Gary for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Craig Tooley captured this beautiful sight, a sunset before a storm.

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

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The Salamanders are enjoying the wet winter we've been having. Several have recently been spotted. Bettye Winters photographed a Speckled Black Salamander. You will see this salamander measures a little more than four inches.

Laura Baker spotted a different salamander, an Oregon Ensatina Salamander.

I learned that the Ensatina can be found under logs or brush, by or in streams and lakes, and other moist places, like the Mendonoma coast! It’s better not to touch this Salamander, as they rely on cutaneous respiration. Their skin is very sensitive and they are easily distressed by handling.

There is a great website to learn more about all things Herps. Gary Nafis created the website California Herps, a guide to amphibians and reptiles in California. Here's the link: http://www.californiaherps.com/index.html

Thanks to Bettye and Laura for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We have three storms on the way, so we are in for another rainy period. Breaking the drought feels really good!