Brown Pelicans use offshore rocks to rest overnight on their travels. So it's not surprising to see hundreds roosting on Gualala Point Island. Craig Tooley photographed the sight.
GPI is off the north end of The Sea Ranch.
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: http://www.ruffimage.com
Heavy fog this morning, with sun this afternoon/
Lisa wrote, "To my joy I realized it was a very low tide, so I spent an hour or so with pants rolled up trolling the tide pools and rocks, delighted by all the small wonders and beauties waiting for a curious eye to discover. Along with the array of the usual muted orange and purple starfish I found one that was a deep, bright reddish orange - absolutely stunning! It had been turned upside down by the outgoing tide and was stuck on its back, so I righted it where it would soon be doused by the salty sea goodness again." Lisa found a Bat Star.
She wrote further, "Much to my excitement I also spied two live Abalone, clinging to their exposed rocky perches, waiting out the ebb of the tide till they could hide once more in their watery world. The bigger one was about 11 inches in diameter with an opalescent sheen of soft greens and pinks."
"And then, something I've never seen at Anchor Bay Beach before - a Sea Cucumber! This one was about a foot long, orange and beige beauty."
"The tide-pools themselves were absolutely gorgeous pieces of abstract living art… What an amazing place we live in where even the bounty of the sea shares itself with us to continually inspire awe and wonder."
Thanks to Lisa for allowing me to share her photos with you here, and for her beautiful prose!
It's sunny and mild this afternoon after the cooling morning fog.
Ron Bolander was at the Gualala River when he saw an Osprey carrying its catch of a fish. Then a Bald Eagle swooped in.
Despite the eagle's efforts, the Osprey kept its dinner. Go fish for yourself, Bald Eagle!
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
There is a high fog today, with mild temps.
Jeff Goll recently photographed this beautiful Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.
I saw Monarch Butterflies yesterday at the Gualala Community Center. There are some huge Butterfly bushes there that the Monarchs were feeding on. There are also several active Barn Swallow nests there.
Thanks to Jeff for allowing me to share his beautiful photo with you here.
It's a glorious day here today, sunny and mild. Perfect weather for Art in the Redwoods at the Gualala Arts Center!
Pygmy Nuthatches are tiny birds. Just look at this cute one Ron Bolander recently photographed next to a cone!
The group of Pygmy Nuthatches, now numbering seven, continues to spend the night inside a birdhouse at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay. Here is a video of them coming in for the night. Click on the blue letters and numbers below.
They arrive at dusk and leave at first light...unless they hear Ravens. Then the become silent and wait inside until the danger has passed over them. Seeing them each day reminds me the days are getting shorter.
Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
The fog has disappeared and warm weather is moving in!