Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Michael Reinhart was photographing Pacific Wrens last week. I often hear them but rarely see these tiny birds. Mike's first photo here made me laugh - the male has his mouth open wide, like an opera singer!

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes their songs thusly: "Their song is a sweet series of tumbling, trilling notes with a staccato quality. Pacific Wrens have a large catalog of complex songs. Males sing for 5 to 10 seconds, stringing together as many as 50 different phrases." You can listen to their calls at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Wren/sounds

In these days when we are filled with worry, it's good to remember that life goes on, and that male Pacific Wrens are singing for mates.

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

We are having a "wait five minutes" type of day. Sometimes brilliant sunshine, sometimes a little rain, with dramatic clouds drifting in. It's quite lovely.

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Gray Whales are one of the oldest species of mammals. They have been swimming in the Earth's oceans for nearly 30 million years, according to Science Daily. To contemplate their awesome twice-yearly migration is to fill you with wonder. Scott and Tree Mercer watch for whales and other marine sightings on the bluffs near the Point Arena Lighthouse. This past week they have counted 133 northbound Gray Whales.

Paul Brewer has a front row seat to view the ocean. Over the years he has photographed Gray Whales. Here is one spouting, where the whale is exhaling.

The Mercers have seen their first  mother/calf pair, which is very early this year. Another pair was seen by Diane Hichwa off of Bodega Bay. Calves seem to enjoy breaching, as Paul captured. The baby whale is beside his/her mother.

Calves have stubby heads as Paul's photo shows.

And here's a look at two Gray Whale tails, perhaps mother/calf.

And here's an x-rated sighting of a male's member, which is nicknamed the Pink Floyd.

Males on the northbound migration can have mating on their minds, but the females aren't interested. We have seen this action several times in the past week off the Mendonoma Coast.

I hope you will take comfort in these trying days that the Gray Whale migration continues as it has for millennia. I wish for all of us the best of health.

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

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Meet Sunny, the rescue Golden Retriever who came all the way from Taiwan to the Mendonoma coast. He is thrilled to learn all about nature. The books are Sunny Loves Spring on the California Coast and Sunny Loves Summer on the California Coast. They are 44 pages each and have coloring pages in the back. Here are a couple of pages from Spring.

And these from Summer.

Sunny has his own Golden Rules!

There are coloring pages in the back. And a page for your own nature sightings.

I would be happy to scan the coloring pages and email them to anyone who could use something fun to do during this difficult time. Email me at mendonomasightings@gmail.com

Also, on Sunny's website there are links to fun and creative nature sites - www.sunnylovesnature.com. You can purchase my books on this website or at various retail outlets on the coast, including the Four-eyed Frog Bookstore in Gualala. https://www.foureyedfrog.com/

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To keep your mind off the news, here are three beautiful birds photographed recently by Sara Bogard at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands bluffs. First, a Western Bluebird.

Then a Western Meadowlark perched on a post for Sara.

And finally this handsome Surf Scoter.

So, if you are troubled by today's events, think of these birds who are thriving.

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

Fog blankets the ocean, but Gualala was sunny today. Changes to come!

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Wild Ginger, Asarum caudatum, is blooming  now on the Mendonoma coast. Mary Hunter photographed an early bloomer in mid-February. Isn't the flower incredible?

It's the heart-shaped leaves that give this native wildflower its common name - they smell of ginger. Look for Wild Ginger in shaded forest floors and it's evergreen.

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

Another sunny day in paradise, though we may get some colder and wet weather coming in Saturday night. Bring it, Mother Nature!