Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Susan Rudy wrote, “The patch of Coast Lilies, Lilium maritimum, on Highway One at mile marker 38.8, is spectacular at the moment, and the population has grown considerably over the past several years. This beautiful, rare, endemic species is easy to see on the east side of the road, just inside the southern boundary of Salt Point State Park. It’s in the ditch/mowed verge, and continues for several hundred feet up the road.

I love seeing the bright orange-red flowers of Coast Lilies nodding on tall slender stalks. My neighbor has a patch by her spring box. They can grow three feet tall and more, but the ones Susan is referring to are shorter because of the mowing. Coast Lilies are pollinated by Anna’s and Allen’s Hummingbirds when first opening, and then by native Bumblebees.

Thanks to Susan for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

It's very warm on the Mendonoma Coast. It's toasty even in Point Arena!

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Sara Bogard actually saw a pair of Peregrine Falcons at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands bluffs. She was able to photograph one of them perched on the bluff edge.

Peregrine Falcons hunt medium-sized birds. They can reach speeds of nearly 70 MPH when in their hunting dive. Those "medium-sized birds" most assuredly never knew what hit them.

Peregrine Falcon calls are high-pitched notes that you can listen to at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/sounds

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

It's warm on the Mendonoma Coast today, with strong breezes. Tomorrow is forecast to be warmer still.

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Brenna Dix had a great sighting on a recent weekend. She wrote, “I was sitting on the beach at the Point Arena Pier. Suddenly this River Otter swam up to the beach and  ran up the shore.

The otter looked at the people walking on the sidewalk,

and immediately ran back into the water. No one else seemed to notice. He was only in sight for a matter seconds. I have never been more happy to have my camera with me. Right place, right time!”

It's almost like the River Otter thought "YIKES! Giants!" and headed back to the ocean. It's amazing to me how close the otter got to the people, and that they didn't notice.

Thanks to Brenna for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

After Saturday night's rainstorm, and Sunday morning's showers, we are having a beautiful sunny day today. Warm weather moving in for the next couple of days.

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Allen Vinson noticed this Common Raven with something in its beak. It turned out to be a bright, red apple. I wonder where this Raven found this apple, which looks to be in perfect condition.

The Raven took the apple to a nearby bluff where he/she ate some of the fruit. Then the bird flew to where its fledgling waited, and proceeded to feed the chick some of the apple.

It's always good to eat fruit and veggies! Allen also took this photo of the beautiful bird in flight.

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

Clouds are pouring in, and the first rain showers have arrived on the Mendonoma Coast around 3:30 this afternoon. Thank you, Mother Nature, for the blessed rain!

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I've never found this native wildflower. Peter Baye photographed Tincture Plant, Collinsia tinctoria.

And here's a bonus wildflower sighting, a Phantom Orchid, Cephalanthera austiniae  photographed by Peter. The native orchid is also called a Snow Orchid - a real treat to see.

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

It's foggy today, with rain forecast for tomorrow!