Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Ken Bailey spotted this mother/calf pair headed north. The calf here is on the right side of its mother, staying close for protection. Killer whales prey on Gray Whale calves.

Gray Whale mother with her calf by Ken Bailey

NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has a hexacopter drone, which can safely photograph marine mammals from above. Here is a recent photo shared on Journey North of a Gray Whale mother with her calf. The photo is courtesy of Wayne Perryman.

 

NOAA hexacopter photo of a mother Gray Whale and her calf, courtesy of Wayne Perryman

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photo. To see much more of Ken's nature photography, including underwater photography, here is his website: http://www.seadreams.org/

To learn more about NOAA, here is their website: www.noaa.gov

And to track the Gray Whale migration, and much more, visit Journey North: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/

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Mary Sue Ittner is a wildflower enthusiast and she wasn't disappointed on a recent hike to Salt Point State Park. Among the beauties she found was Checker Mallow, Sidalcea Malviflora.

Checker Mallow, Sidalcea malvaeflora, by Mary Sue Ittner

Also see was Common Meadowfoam, Limnanthus douglasii.

Common Meadowfoam, Limnanthus douglasii, by Mary Sue Ittner

Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium bellum, is always fun to find.

Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium bellum, by Mary Sue Ittner

And she found a nice group of edible [when young] mushrooms, Shaggy Manes.

Shaggy Manes by Mary Sue Ittner

To learn more about the fascinating and beautiful Salt Point State Park, here is a link to their website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=453

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

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Mark Simkins and Kitty Wolfe were at The Sea Ranch when they saw this at low tide - thousand of mussels.

Low Tide at Shell Beach - thousands of Mussels by Mark Simkins

Other creatures to look for are Sea Urchins. Craig Tooley took this photo.

Sea Urchins by Craig Tooley

And Sea Stars, this one photographed by Noel Olson. It is an Ochre Sea Star.

Summer Cheerleader - an Ochre Sea Star by Noel Olson

Thanks to Mark, Craig, and Noel for allowing me to share their photos with you here. Tide pooling is a Coast tradition.

To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com.

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Peter entitled his photo, "Not a care in the world." Harbor Seal mothers give birth on secluded beaches. There is a large rookery at Tidepool Beach on The Sea Ranch.

Not a care in the world, a Harbor Seal pup with its mother by Peter Cracknell

Yes, life is good when you are on the beautiful Mendonoma Coast!

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

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This weekend brought calmer weather and abalone divers from near and far headed to the Mendonoma Coast. The swells were minimal but the visibility was not good. That didn't stop seekers of red treasure from finding their goal.

Here is a photo from a recent dive. Roger Rude and his dive buddy, Jack Likins, each got a ten+ inch abalone. Roger also speared a Lingcod.

Roger Rude with a ten+ inch Abalone and a Lingcod by Jack Likins (Large)

Rick and I took a walk on the Walk-on-Beach public access trail on The Sea Ranch yesterday, Saturday. We greeted two abalone divers headed back to their truck. They were tired but happy. We saw the trail they used to get down the bluff face. It is steep, very steep. I guess abalone divers must be part mountain goat!

Here is a photo of the iridescent interior of an Abalone shell, taken by Craig Tooley

Abalone shell by AUG Craig Tooley

Thanks to Jack for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To learn more about abalone diving, preparing abalone, and much more, here is a link to Eric Anderson's awesome website: http://www.abaloneten.com/home

To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com