Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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On a recent walk at the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands, Bob Rutemoeller found several native wildflowers in bloom. The first is Goldfields, Lasthenia californica, a member of the Sunflower family. This wildflower can bloom in big carpets of yellow on coastal bluffs.

Goldfields, Lasthenia california, by Bob RutemoellerNext is Earth Brodiaea, also called Ground Brodiaea, Brodiaea terrestris. It's a member of the Lily family.

Earth Brodiaea, Brodiaea terrestris ssp. terrestris, by Bob RutemoellerAnd last is Coast Onion, also called Wild Onion, Allium dichlamydeum, another member of the Lily family.

Coast Onion, Allium dichlamydeum, by Bob RutemoellerThanks to Bob for allowing me to share his photos with you here. This has been a wonderful spring for native wildflowers!

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I'll let Roger Rude tell the story. He wrote, “I was searching a rock structure in 20 feet of water when I came upon a rock gully. As it opened up below me, I could see some large abalones along a hole on the side. I dropped my ab iron, which was attached to a float connected to my dive board, and returned to the surface for air.

“On my next dive, I followed my float line back to the hole and measured three large abalones. I saw one more off to the side, nestled on the ceiling of the hole. This one clicked on my ten-inch gauge.” Roger retrieved his ab iron and easily popped it off the rock.

Roger wrote further, “At the end of my breath, I grabbed the ab and headed for the surface. On the surface I carefully measured it and confirmed it was over ten inches. This was my 40th abalone over ten inches, a small milestone towards the completion of my bucket list of a lifetime goal of 100.”

Roger Rude finds a trophy Abalone by Jack Likins

Here's a photo of one of Roger's other 39 trophy abalones. He looks pretty darn happy, doesn't he?!

Roger Rude with a huge Abalone by Jack Likins

Roger's diving partner, Jack Likins, has already recorded his 100th 10-inch abalone, considered trophy abalones, an amazing feat and Roger’s goal. Many divers never get a single trophy abalone. It takes skill, peak conditioning, intelligence and a dash of luck.

Roger took a video of finding the abalone in the first photo. You can see it here: https://youtu.be/auqn-MkmV7g

Thanks to Jack for allowing me to share his photos of Roger, and thanks to Roger for sharing his experience. Roger did tell me the abalone in the video did come off the rock amazingly easily.

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Ron LeValley was on a pelagic trip off of Fort Bragg when this Humpback whale spectacularly breached.

Humpback Whale offshore from Fort Bragg by Ron LeValleySummer is the time we are more likely to see Humpbacks, but they have been seen in greater numbers off the California coast this year. Here is a photo Ron took on a previous pelagic trip. The Humpback came up right next to the boat and was looking at him!

Humpback Whale looking at me by Ron LeValleyI sure would like to know what the Humpback was thinking when it saw Ron and his camera.

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/

Ron also has a near-daily photo email list you can subscribe to and, just like mine, it's free!

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Jan Jewell spotted the Circumhorizontal Arc, also called a Fire Rainbow, a few weeks ago.

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A Common Raven can be seen flying by on the right. This phenomenon is caused by the refraction of sunlight in ice crystals found certain clouds, in particular cirrus clouds.

Here is another example of a fire rainbow, this one taken by Peggy Berryhill.

Fire Rainbow by Peggy BerryhillYes, there was beauty in the sky! Thanks to Jan and Peggy for allowing me to share their photos here with you.

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A successful Peregrine Falcon nest is to be celebrated. We keep the exact location secret to protect these birds. Craig Tooley, along with Rick and myself, was invited onto a private property that has a near eye-level view of the nest. The photos show the mother feeding her two chicks with the father perched on the rock above.

We're hungry - Peregrine Falcon chicks and a parent by Craig Tooley Two Peregrine Falcon chicks being fed by Craig Tooley Peregrine Falcon feeds two chicks by Craig TooleyThis nest is in southern Mendocino County. We hope these chicks thrive and that they will delight us in the years to come with their exceptional speed.

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