Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Mel Smith went to see if any of the beautiful white Tundra Swans had returned to the Garcia River area. He first looked at Hunter lagoon off of Biaggi Lane, and then at Brush Creek lagoon but found no Swans. The last big storm had washed away the sand, and drained the wetlands in both places, at least for now.

Mel then went to Hathaway Creek, which is found on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands and found the fields flooded. There he saw four Tundra Swans, the first of many, we hope.

Here's a photo from a few years ago of two Tundra Swans in flight, taken by Anne Mary Schaefer.

In years past, there have been hundreds of these swans in the floodplains of the Garcia River. We hope more will return to overwinter on the southern Mendocino coast.

Thanks to Mel and Anne Mary for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Cathleen Crosby photographed another beautiful sunset. With the light reflecting up into the sky, it does look like a spotlight.

spotlight-sunset-by-cathleen-crosbyThanks to Cathleen for allowing me to share her unique sunset photo with you here.

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Amy Ruegg recently photographed stormy weather, which is what we are having today.

storm-clouds-by-amy-rueggAfter a wet storm earlier today, we have what I call a "wait five minutes" kind of day. Brilliant sunshine, quickly followed by showers, maybe a little hail, and then more sunshine. It's a fun day to prepare for the holiday!

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

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Ron Champoux found several Death Caps, Amanita phalloides, growing on The Sea Ranch. They are big, beautiful, and quite deadly if consumed.

ron-champoux-with-a-death-cap-mushroom-by-jill-silliphantRon's smiling, but he knows not to eat it! I used to be afraid to touch one of the deadly three mushrooms, but at a mushroom forage with David Arora, I saw him handle a Death Cap without a care in the world. So Ron isn't putting himself in harm's way by handling this Death Cap. Still, I'd wash my hands thoroughly to be on the safe side.

We have rain coming in tonight, after a string of six days without the wet stuff. And you know what rain brings - mushrooms, and hopefully they will be the edible kind.

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

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Michelle Welch was amazed to see a huge rainbow embracing the town Gualala. It felt like a blessing.

rainbow-over-gualala-by-michelle-welch-1024x576As rainbows goes, this is sure a big one! Below is a rainbow photo taken by Craig Tooley. It appears in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year.

rainbow-jan-by-craig-tooley

Thanks to Michelle for allowing me to share her photo with you here. And thanks to Craig too. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com