Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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John Harmon was at Sea Pine Beach at low tide on The Sea Ranch when he saw all these healthy Stars. They look to be feeding on a bed of Mussels.

These are Ochre Stars and they also eat clams and oysters. I do know one creature that eats Sea Stars and that is a Western Gull. Here's a photo of this gull taken by Allen Vinson. The food chain in action!

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

A heat wave has enveloped the western part of the United States. If you travel inland from the coast just a bit, you hit very high temps. Here on the Mendonoma Coast, there is no fog, just a gentle breeze and warm temps today.

 

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Lloyd Chasey set out from the Point Arena Harbor in his 13-foot kayak a week ago Tuesday with his fishing gear. Oh my, was he successful! Kathleen Chasey wrote, “Lloyd caught this 25-pound Salmon from his kayak. In kayak fisherman speak it’s called a ‘hawg.’”

That's a big fish to get from a kayak! Congratulations to Lloyd and thanks to Kathleen for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

The fog has vanished and we have nothing but blue skies! Heatwave inland and toasty weather here for the weekend.

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Shair Goforth-Eby noticed this Bald Eagle handing tight onto a branch during a windy day.

Just look at the feathers on the eagle's head! I have to tell you there is such good news about the Gualala Bald Eagles. The news will be in the Independent Coast Observer tomorrow. What? You don't subscribe? You can get an email subscription at http://www.mendonoma.com

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

Drippy fog this morning has given way to warm sunshine this afternoon. Looks like the weather for the upcoming weekend will be sunny and warm.

 

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Roxanne Holmes wrote, "Somebody got a lovely 33rd birthday gift. I love it that people are willing to put such work into a piece of art that will be erased by the next tide."

"What a lovely birthday gift. The memory will last longer than any other, more traditional, present."

Roxanne found this artwork on Shell Beach at The Sea Ranch.

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

The fog is pretty darn persistent today, but it's a high fog and quite mild. No wind!

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Bill and Carol Frizzell discovered a Gray Fox looking up at them from a sinkhole. Bill wrote, “Carol and I were hiking along the Point Arena Headlands on Sunday, July 19, and she spotted a Gray Fox that is trapped in a 10 to 15 feet deep sinkhole east of the Lighthouse on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. We went back the next day and the fox was still in the hole. It appeared healthy and alert.”

Gray Foxes are excellent climbers so it’s possible the fox wasn’t trapped. It might have been a mother fox with a den. Virginia O’Roarke, Senior Environmental Scientist for the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, took a look at Bill’s photos. She wrote, “Let me know if you see the fox is still in the sinkhole and starts to look skinny or sick, as I will reach out to our local wildlife rehabilitators to assist if needed. If the fox is actually trapped, placing a large, down branch into the sinkhole would be a great solution. The fox will climb out on its own.”

Virginia cautioned not to feed the fox or to encourage it out as that could be detrimental to the fox and possibly cause harm. She wrote further, “If you need at number to call in the future for such issues, you can contact CALTIP at 1-888-334-2258 or text a message to 847-411. CDFW also maintains a reporting website at https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir.

The good news is the Gray Fox was gone when the Frissells went back to check.

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

Foggy mornings followed by sunshine in the afternoons - that's the prescription for August, or as some call it on the Mendonoma Coast, Fogust.