Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Acorn woodpeckers have been busy gathering up their namesake nuts and storing them in granary trees. Jon Shiu wrote, “I observed a couple acorn woodpeckers in Little River."

[At first] I have not seen them with any acorns. But I looked a little closer and could see the acorns.” Jon photographed a granary tree, a dead upright tree where they drilled holes to store their acorns.

These woodpeckers drill thousands of holes in dead trees, utility poles, and other wood, filling them with harvested acorns. The whole group constantly monitors and moves drying acorns to smaller holes to keep them secure from theft by other animals.

When my research mentioned “other wood,” I had no idea these birds would use an empty birdhouse for storage in Gualala. Mark Escajeda wrote, “We enjoy our delightfully noisome year-round neighbors, a community of acorn woodpeckers. They fly around and chat among themselves as if they own the place, which we guess in many ways they do. This year they've taken advantage of the idled birdhouses we have on our side of the fence. We'll clean the houses in late winter for springtime nesting by violet-green swallows and western bluebirds, but in the meantime, we're happy to help.”

Watching Nature is fascinating! Thanks to Jon and Mark for allowing me to share their photos with  you here.

We received 1.14 inches from the first storm, 25.27 season to date. Next storm is about to hit!

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I was in awe of last night's sunset. The reds were magnificent and it lasted for well over fifteen minutes. Rozanne Rapozo took several photos from her home on The Sea Ranch and I thought this one looked like a painting. But she assures me it was the actual sunset!

I took this photo from inside Rick's and my house in Anchor Bay as the sunset was getting going.

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

The vibrant sunset was letting us know a storm was headed our way. It's rather unusual in that it's coming in from the south. Most storms come in from the north. Batten down the hatches!

Happy New Year to you and yours!

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Kate Bloch wrote, "Yesterday morning, my husband noticed a small crowd gathering near the post office and learned that a Bald Eagle was perched in the trees nearby.  When I first observed the lone eagle, it was largely a silhouette, shrouded in fog, high in a tree.  Shortly thereafter, it flew north, and a second eagle appeared to join it.  Both then landed in a tall tree covered in lichen. Neil and Susan Silverman also spied the eagles, and we enjoyed an extended sighting opportunity as we watched the eagles interact and become the subjects of a vigorous confrontation with a peregrine falcon.  It felt like such a gift to observe and listen to the remarkable avian life around us!"

Kate's photo shows the Peregrine approaching. On the left is a younger Bald Eagle, perhaps 3 1/2 years old. The Bald Eagle on the right is an adult, and I believe she is the Gualala River Bald Eagle.

In this next photo, the two Eagles aren't very happy!

I wondered why the Falcon was trying to drive off the Bald Eagles, especially because this isn’t yet nesting season. I learned that it could be due to intense territoriality, or protecting valuable winter food/roosting spots. Or maybe that smaller Falcon just doesn’t like Bald Eagles! I'll share one of Susan and Neil's photos next.

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

We survived another vigorous storm last night. Rain totals since Dec. 19th are 10.10 inches. Some seasonal creeks are now making beautiful waterfalls as they cascade off of bluffs. After the showers of this afternoon, we have clear weather for five days or so.

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I'll let Rozanne tell her story:

I had been looking forward to photographing the last Super Moon of 2025. So I set my alarm for 4am with the hope we would have a clear night.  As it turns out. I needn’t to have worried, since when the alarm went off, my bedroom was filled with moonlight shining through the windows.

I checked the weather and noted it was going to be cold; I spent a nanosecond thinking about how tempting it was to remain in a nice warm bed. Then, got up, dressed, fed the cats who thought it was time for breakfast, made my coffee and set off for Galleons with a view of Arch Rock.

Walked out to the bluff, set up my gear and then waited for the Moon to move into position so I could catch the reflection on the water.

(C))Rozanne_Rapozo

By the time that happened, the temperature had dropped to under 40 degrees and a cold wind came up!

Needless to say, the wait was worth it.  But when I started to pack up and put my gear away, my hands were so cold I couldn’t fold up my tripod!!   Luckily it fit in the back seat of the car and I headed back home to a cozy fire and hot coffee, feeling very good about my shots and that the weather Gods cooperated.

Thanks to Rozanne for allowing me to share her photo with you here!

Happy holidays to all! We've been having a LOT of rain, over eight inches since Dec. 19th. More coming in tonight, Christmas Eve. Hope Santa is able to fly in the rainy weather!

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Steve Woolson took a photo of a recent sunrise and wrote, "Red sky in morning, sailors take warning!"

The link for the Ethan's octopus video did not work. Let's try this one:

Ruby octopus, Octopus rubescens, video by Ethan Arutunian

Thanks to Steve for allowing me to share his photo and to Ethan for allowing me to share his video with you here.

It has begun to rain. The forecast has a LOT of rain headed our way!