Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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This morning Rick and I, along with friends Pam and Eric Ryan, saw a large group of Brown Pelicans on the sandbar of the Gualala River. We were walking the Gualala Bluff Trail when we saw them, a true delight!

Grace O'Malley was at the Bodega Bay Harbor recently when she saw these two Brown Pelicans coming in for a landing. They look like they are tippy-toeing across the surface of the water.

Then, with Grace watching, the two pelicans face-planted into the water. It's enough to make one laugh out loud!

As graceful as Brown Pelicans are in flight, they can be quite clumsy in landing. Ah, we love the Brown Pelicans, graceful or not! They have recently dispersed along the coast - a large group was recently seen resting of Gualala Point Island.

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

The weather here changed dramatically today. This morning it was warm and still. When we walked the Bluff Trail it was probably in the mid-70s. Then around noon the fog formed up. The temps dropped 15 degrees. Amazing...

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This Buck somehow managed to snag a string of decorative bells. He is quite entangled but seems to be doing okay. He's able to eat, but he isn't able to walk quietly because the bells jingle as he moves. Mark Haveman was the first to let me know about him - the Buck in in the area of Fish Rock Road in Gualala. Bill Bennett then sent me these photos of the poor guy.

It would be nice if we could get them off of him, but that's easier said than done. This Buck might be stuck with the bells until he loses his antlers early next year. Or, hopefully, he will figure a way to remove them.

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

The heavy fog of the past couple of days is gone. It's sunny and breezy today.

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Rick and Teresa Denniston have a beautiful home overlooking the Gualala River and the Pacific Ocean. They named it Seredipidity and it's available to rent. When they come up to stay for a while, intending to work on the house, the great wildlife sightings distract them! First, they saw several Gray Whales. Here's a photo showing the back of one of them.

Then they were distracted by this lovely Doe and a young Buck looking up at them.

Finally, they were charmed by the sight of a family of California Quail, including four of the chicks.

Hard to get work done, that is for sure!

Thanks to Teresa and Rick for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see Serendipity, here is the link: https://rentals.coastinghome.com/rns/vacation-rental/gualala/ca/serendipit

Our heat wave is over, thank goodness. The fog returned and burned off at the coast by noon. ahhh....

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Ron Bolander had this Bald Eagle land in a tree where he lives, north of Gualala.

I believe this is the female Bald Eagle who has been spending a lot of time at the Gualala River with her mate. We are excited that Bald Eagles have returned to the Mendonoma coast after their long absence.

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

Another warm day today, but not as hot. Tomorrow and Sunday is one of Gualala's premier events, Art in the Redwoods at the Gualala Arts Center. You can learn more about it at this link: http://gualalaarts.org/2019/08/58th-annual-art-in-the-redwoods-festival/

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We could use some fog as it has been HOT on the Mendonoma coast. A few weeks ago a rare late afternoon fogbow appeared. I'll let Mark Hancock tell the story.

“As I was leaving the Point Arena Light Station, I was treated to one of the most vivid and beautifully shaped fogbows I have ever seen.

"I think it appeared because the wispy fogbank was just barely above the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands field next to the Light Station with a brilliant blue sky above it, and the sun was low in the sky since it was around 6 p.m. I pointed it out to some folks who were parked in front of our entry, and they had been admiring it themselves!”

The vast majority of fogbows are seen in the morning, so it was nice to learn they can appear in the late afternoon.

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