Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

•

Dale Phelps watched some big waves just north of Gualala. Dale wrote, "We took this shot off our front deck on Jan. 21. The splashes were getting so high that is was unnerving to step up to the railing for a clean shot. It was hard to tear ourselves away from watching all day.”

People were saying they hadn't ever seen waves as big as they were seeing on the 21st. It's calm now, as our sunny break continues. Next storm is due in late Wednesday.

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

•

I had tossed a tennis ball for our golden retriever, Sunny. It rolled down a slope and, since I am a better retriever than Sunny, I had to go get the ball. When I looked at the hillside, there was this nice big chanterelle.

Actually it was the first of many. And hedgehog mushrooms are up too. All delicious edibles and gifts from the forest.

•

Craig Tooley photographed the many waterfalls tumbling over the bluffs at The Sea Ranch.

Here's a close-up of one. Most are seasonal creeks that come to life with the blessed winter rains.

During the last series of storms, many trees came down. Craig photographed one of them.

We had four trees come down on our property, several blocking a hiking trail we use every day. The sounds of chainsaws can be heard during this spate of dry weather, as we clean up from the deluge.

The forecast is sunny through the weekend! The southward Gray Whale migration is in full force right now, so this weekend could be a perfect time to see their spouts, a glimpse of their back followed by a tail. I love seeing them.

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

•

Molly Scaramella noticed this Great Blue Heron watching the flooding Garcia River. Of all the birds here on the Mendonoma coast, the Great Blue Herons seem to be unfazed by the wild and wet weather.

Molly got a photo of perhaps the same Heron on a different day, perched in a tree.

Great Blue Herons have a rather squawking sound that you can hear at this link: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/sounds

They wade into the water to fish, and they hunt for rodents, insects, and even birds on land. And they can hunt in the daytime and nighttime due to photoreceptors in their eyes. They are year round residents of the Mendonoma coast.

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

•

Saturday's waves were described as "monsters," and "the biggest I've ever seen." Janet Burch went to Del Mar Point on The Sea Ranch to photograph the action.

In coves, sea foam was created by the action of the waves, coating rocks and bluff faces.

And big rolling waves threw water and foam into the air.

It was a very dramatic day on the Mendondoma Coast. Today the storms have gone, and there is nothing but beautiful sunshine. We need to dry out a bit after all the wonderful rains.

Thanks to Janet for allowing me to share her photos with you here. One more of Janet's photos will be in Thursday's edition of the Independent Coast Observer in my column.