Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Chris Pechal sent in the first photo of a blooming Calypso Orchid.

Don't be deceived by Chris' photo - the flower and stalk are very tiny, only about two inches high. I always first look for the dark green leaf that lays flat on the ground.

Never try to transplant these orchids as they need a fungus in the soil to thrive. They are tiny jewels of the deep forests, forests that are undisturbed by humans.

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

After all the drenching rain and hail, we are gifted with a spring-like day. Temps hit 70 degrees today. Another sunny day is predicted for tomorrow and then some more of the wet stuff.

 

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John and Nicole Forte went tide pooling off Navigtor's Beach on The Sea Ranch. They spotted this small octopus, who's common name is Ruby Octopus or Pacific Red Octopus.

The Ruby Octopus is thought to be very intelligent, like most octopuses. They have distinctive personalities. Like all octopuses, they can change color and texture. What an amazing little octopus John and Nicole found.

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

We are having minus tides in the afternoon now, a perfect time to find a tide pool to explore!

Today we are having the calm after the storm. It's cool but absolutely beautiful. Tree Mercer tells me she and Scott are seeing lots of Gray Whales swimming northward today.

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Rick Denniston had several other photos of the Bald Eagle eating what appeared to be a huge lizard. In this photo I could see that the Bald Eagle was eating a Lamprey, an eel-like fish found in the Gualala River.

Mystery solved!

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

Another wild weather day. Early this morning, with the temperature barely reaching 40 degrees, a hailstorm hit. Here's our deck in Anchor Bay covered in hail.

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Rick Denniston photographed this Bald Eagle eating what looks like a large lizard. The light wasn't good for the photo, Rick said.

I sent Rick's photo to reptile expert Gary Nafis. He wrote,

"I don't know what it is. I'm not sure it's a lizard, and I don't think it's the tail end of a snake. I can't see any legs and the light thing hanging down over the branch doesn't look like one. The largest lizards in your area are alligator lizards, but if an eagle's talons are two inches long as I've read, then it's too large to be an alligator lizard. If it is a lizard, it would have to be an escaped pet. If it's a rodent, I don't think the eagle would be eating the tail end. Raptors have been seen eating salamanders, too, but the tail is also wrong for a giant salamander."
Do you have any idea what the Bald Eagle is eating?
Thanks to Rick for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Ooo, we are having wild weather - rain, hail, sunshine, more rain hail, sunshine...a wait five minutes kind of day. We had a 1/2 inch of rain this morning in a short period of time. More coming in late this afternoon.

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Red-shouldered Hawks are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast, and it's always a treat to see and hear one. Craig Tooley recently photographed one of these beautiful hawks at the moment it took flight near the Gualala River.

Heidi Horvitz photographed a Red-shouldered Hawk that makes its home in the Timber Cove area. She said this hawk is very vocal!

To hear the calls of a Red-shouldered Hawk, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

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

We received 1.2 inches of rain overnight Friday, a nice soaking. Today, Sunday, is sunny and breezy, a beautiful day. More rain coming in tomorrow. Wildflower alert: The first Calypso Orchids are up!