Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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River Otters live in and by Mendonoma rivers and creeks. Steve Coffey-Smith recently spotted three River Otters in the ocean.

River Otters by Steve Coffey-Smith

One place you might see River Otters is near the lagoon of the Gualala River. They cannot abide pollution so the fact that they are here is a good indication of the health of our waterways.

Though they look cute, they are feisty creatures. The female raises her pups; the male is only around for mating. One of my favorite photos was taken by Nan Brichetto of a River Otter sleeping on a beach.

River Otter sleeping in the sun by Nan Brichetto (Large)

Thanks to Steve and Nan for allowing me to share their photos with  you here.

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This fire rainbow, or more properly, a circumhorizontal arc, appeared and several coastal residents got a photo of it. Donna Woodbury photographed it from Anchor Bay Beach. In Donna's second photo the fire rainbow is at the bottom and a portion of the halo around the sun appears. A halo can often predict rain.

Fire Rainbow at Anchor Bay Beach by Donna Woodbury Halo around the sun and a fire rainbow at Anchor Bay Beach by Donna Woodbury

Connie King capture it from The Sea Ranch.

A Circumhorizontal Arc, aka a Fire Rainbow by Connie King

Peggy Berryhill only had her phone camera but she captured it too. She said the colors were much more vibrant that what her photo shows.

Fire Rainbow by Peggy Berryhill

And lastly Christina Chapman got this photo, which also shows the halo around the sun.

Halo around the sun and a fire rainbow by Christina Chapman

A circumhorizontal arc occurs when the sun is refracted through ice crystals.

Thanks to Donna, Connie, Peggy, and Christina for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Paul Brewer trained his camera on several mother-calf pairs. He saw a calf breach multiple times.

A Gray Whale breaches by Paul Brewer Breaching Gray Whales by Paul Brewer

Paul has observed that the calves seem much more likely to breach when the ocean is roiled up by wind. Interesting!

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

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Clay Yale sent in the first photo of the spring showing a newborn fawn.

One of the first Fawns and two Quail by Clay Yale

The spotted fawn is seeing the resident Quail, perhaps for the first time.

So now is the time to drive slower. If a Doe crosses the road in front of you, pause for a moment or two to see if a fawn...or two...or even three... might be following close behind.

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

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Paul Kozal photographed spring flowers and a dramatic sky at The Sea Ranch.

Spring flowers and a dramatic sky by Paul Kozal

A picture of loveliness for you today!

To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: http://paulkozal.com/home.html