Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Yesterday, Eric Nordvold and Cece Case saw an Osprey flying over Cooks Beach in Gualala. We wondered if he could be the first returning Osprey. The vast majority of Ospreys that nest here migrate far to our south in the fall. A lone Osprey, though, was spotted during The Sea Ranch's bird count in January. But this morning I looked through my spotting scope and there he was!!! Perched on the nest that Rick and I have been watching for years, an active Osprey nest here in Anchor Bay. The males return first and the females will follow soon. They usually arrive around the first day of Spring, but like seemingly everything else, they are apparently early this year. Here is a photo taken by Chris Pechal last year.

It's always exciting to spot the first returning Ospreys. With all that's troubling in our world, knowing that the Ospreys have returned to the Mendonoma Coast brings comfort.

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

Bright sunshine this afternoon, and temps in the low sixties. The ferocious wind has died down, thank goodness.

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Peter Baye found Wild Strawberries, Fragaria vesca,  and he found one not just blooming but with ripe fruit – now that’s early!

He wrote that even in the earliest warm spots these native strawberries ripen up in April, not late February. And while these strawberries are small, they are delicious.

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

We did get two small rainstorms. On Thursday, there was .10 inches at our place and Friday brought .25 inches. Season to date is 36.85 inches. Nice to get some wet stuff! Today is windy, cool, with many clouds racing across the sky. Oh, did I mention that it's incredibly beautiful?

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It's so beautiful to see the Moon set "into" the Pacific Ocean. Rozanne Rapozo photographed this from The Sea Ranch. Notice the reflected light from the Moon in the ocean - some call this the Stairway to Heaven.

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

Rain early this morning! Not a lot - a tenth of an inch - but it is always welcome. Maybe more tomorrow.

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The beginning of the northward migration back to the Arctic has begun. The first Grays to head north are the newly pregnant females. They are swimming hard and fast for their feeding grounds. Shari Goforth saw several Gray Whales the other day off the bluffs of the Point Arena Lighthouse. Despite the distance, Shari got several great photos. Here is the tail of one of the Grays she saw.

And here is a collage of the two Gray Whales she saw.

Thanks to Shari for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To read her blog posts, here is the link: https://mendonomagraywhale.com/migraytions-blog-home?blog=y

We had sprinkles late yesterday, nice to get a little wet on an afternoon walk with friends. Today is sunny and warm, in the low sixties. There is no wind and the ocean is glistening like a million diamonds in the afternoon sun.

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Shooting stars is one of the common names for the native wildflower Primula hendersonii. They, like quite a few other wildflowers, have bloomed early due to our warm, dry False Spring. They are quite lovely to see.

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

It's cloudy and chilly on the Mendonoma Coast today. Hoping for rain, and it is in the forecast for early next week.