Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

•

Mel Smith recently counted 121 Tundra Swans near the Garcia River. He took this photo through his spotting scope. You will see Canada Geese too.

Tundra Swans and Canada Geese by Mel Smith

Martin Steinpress also saw and photographed Tundra Swans recently.

Three Tundra Swans and Mallards by Martin Steinpress Tundra Swans by Martin Steinpress

The past four years, during the drought, only a few Tundra Swans returned to overwinter on the Mendonoma coast. So we're happy to see more than a hundred, though that is still a small number compared to the numbers we used to see.

Here is a close-up look at these beautiful swans in flight, taken by Steve Wilcox.

Tundra Swans by Steve Wilcox

Thanks to Steve, Martin and Mel for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

•

Bob Rutemoeller photographed the Gualala River and the Pacific Ocean meeting.

Where the Gualala River and the Pacific Ocean meet by Bob RutemoellerYou can see the Gualala River is muddy from all the storms. The ocean is coming over the sandbar and entering the river at its mouth. It's endlessly fascinating to watch this river and its interplay with the ocean!

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

•

Rozann and George Grunig recently visited Hearn Gulch [mile marker 10.0 in Mendocino County]. It was exploding with such force that they were in awe.

The blowhole at Hearn Gulch by Rozann Grunig

This is a beautiful public access point to visit with bluffs, broad ocean views, a sweet pocket beach, a sea tunnel and this blowhole.

Thanks to Rozann for allowing me to share her post with you here.

•

Craig Tooley was out at Black Point Beach at The Sea Ranch when he noticed dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins!

Bottlenose dolphins by Craig Tooley

A bottlenose dolphin by Craig Tooley

I sent Craig’s photos to Bill Keener of Golden Gate Cetacean Research. He wrote, “Wow, these are great shots, and I can immediately recognize the individual dolphins here! In the background is Allure, in the middle is Bliss, a female who had a calf two years ago, and in the foreground is Fletcher.
“They have all been sighted fairly recently in the SF Bay Area. This is valuable information. We are working on a scientific paper with all the dolphin researchers in California describing how the coastal bottlenose stock is expanding its range north. Craig’s photos are one more set of data that prove it.”

It is the dorsal fin that allows scientists like Bill to identify individual animals. It’s exciting to be able to contribute to Bill’s research through our citizen science, and with the talent of a great photographer like Craig.

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

To learn more about the Golden Gate Cetacean Research organization, here is their website: http://www.ggcetacean.org/

•

Clay Yale was standing by the Knipp-Stengle Barn on The Sea Ranch when he saw this scene.

Scene by the Barn on The Sea Ranch by Clay Yale

The flock of sheep and goats that keep the grasses down on the Ranch are dotting the hillside. A misty photo for you as we await yet another storm later tonight.

The Sea Ranch sheep have their own website. To find out where the flock is on TSR, here is their website: http://www.thesearanchsheep.com/

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