Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Monica Martinez regularly sees this Bobcat hunting gophers and voles in a Sea Ranch meadow. On this day the Bobcat snoozed under a bush, and then was disturbed by a few Deer.

Monica also photographed the cat with the tufted ears walking down her driveway.

It's pretty wonderful that Monica can look out her window and see a Bobcat, a Bobcat living lightly on the land.

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

We received .50 inches of rain yesterday here in Anchor Bay. September rain is so very welcome. 2.10 inches season to date. May it keep on coming! Today is breezy and beautiful, with everything washed clean.

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Monarch Butterflies have migrated to the coast where they feed on nectar plants before heading south for the winter. Paul Brewer photographed several in his garden in Gualala.

When Paul photographed perhaps the first Monarch to appear a while ago, the butterfly was pretty tattered. This butterfly is missing part of its wing. These migrating butterflies are the long-lived Monarchs, called the Methuselah generation. They can live up to seven months and some will travel all the way down to Mexico.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

It's raining here on the coast this afternoon! We have well over a half inch of the blessed wet stuff. It's nice and mild too, about 60 degrees. We go back to sunny weather after today's rain. Will there be mushrooms soon?

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Once again, life is good when you are a Harbor Seal. Just look at this stretch that Sara Bogard photographed recently out on the Point Arena Lighthouse bluffs.

This Harbor Seal looks to be leading a stress-free life!

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

Foggy right on the coast but sunny just a little bit away, and very mild temps.

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California Red-legged Frogs are a treat to see. Their numbers are down and they are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. Chris Pechal, on a biotic survey on The Sea Ranch, photographed one of these frogs in Salal Creek.

It's good to see this frog is thriving at Salal Creek!

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

Oh my, the day started off HOT, with the thermometer moving past 90 degrees by 9 am! But the wind picked up early this afternoon and the temp went down to 80, thank goodness. The ocean was flat calm this morning. Here's a photo from our deck taken at dawn this morning. There's the full moon low in the sky. The fog is AWOL!

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Connie King wrote, “I thought you might enjoy seeing this shot of pollen-laden bees feasting on a Matijilla Poppy from our yard today. Can you believe those bright yellow thighs!?! Or maybe that’s what the ‘bees knees’ is all about.”

I checked with entomologist Mary Lou Flint. She wrote, “Definitely Honey Bees. Nice shot of their well-filled pollen baskets! It’s amazing how much pollen, and nectar, they can carry in their ‘saddle bags,’ apparently up to 30% of their weight.”

Honey Bees are not native here but they are used to pollinate many crops. As several people on the Mendonoma Coast have hives of these bees, they are often seen in our gardens, feeding on flowers. I am also seeing them at the small waterfall in our courtyard. They are coming for water!

Here is one of our native bees, a Yellow-faced Bumblebee, photographed by Paul Brewer.

Thanks to Connie and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Good news! Several Monarch Butterflies were seen today, one in Timber Cove and another in Gualala. Fingers crossed that we see many more in the days and weeks ahead. Today is a spectacular day of blue skies and warm temps. The fog is AWOL and the air is clear from Saturday's wonderful rain.