Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Rick and I are fortunate to have trails weaving their way into a mixed forest. Huckleberry, our golden retriever, demands two walks a day, rain or shine. So we hike the forest every day. It's wonderful to see the light slanting through the trees.

Craig Tooley recently captured a beautiful photo that speaks to the serenity and beauty of a forest.

I'd certainly take this path...would you?

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com

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The Point Arena Lighthouse is on a strip of land that is the closest land on the continental United States to the Hawaiian Islands. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on three sides. Kris Paden recently visited and took this photo of the lighthouse.

If you climb to the top of the lighthouse, you can look down on an interesting crater, called Devil's Punchbowl. Carolyn André recently took this photo.

This was once a small sinkhole that has steadily been enlarged by weather and the surging tides over the years.

The lighthouse is a great place to whale watch, see birds and other wildlife. To learn more about the lighthouse, here is a link to their website: http://www.pointarenalighthouse.com/index.html

Thanks to Kris and Carolyn for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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I have to admit it - I love owls. Richard Kuehn recently saw and photographed a Burrowing Owl on the north end of The Sea Ranch, the first one he has seen there in five years.

This little owl can be seen hunting for insects in the day and night. It's a smart owl too. Burrowing Owls put dung from other critters around the outside of their nests. That attracts dung beetles, which they love to eat.

To hear the call of this owl, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/burrowing_owl/sounds

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

To see several photos of another little owl that landed on our deck railing, a Northern Pygmy Owl, here's the link to that post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/20/a-northern-pygmy-owl-paid-us-a-visit-in-anchor-bay-earlier-this-week/

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The Pacific Ocean is roaring again today. This morning the ocean looked like corduroy, with big swells spaced evenly apart. Tom Eckles recently photographed the dramatic scene.

You can almost hear the ocean and feel the salt spray by looking at Tom's photo.

Thanks to Tom for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Tom's photography, here is his website: www.tomeckles.com

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A few Matsutakes appeared in the same spot they fruit every year. Usually there is an undulating string of at least fifteen Matsutakes but this year only four have sprouted.

 Rozann Grunig took this photo of me holding a nice Matsutake.

And here is a photo of several Shrimp Russulas. They like our Shore Pine habitat, just off our driveway. Our golden retriever, Huckleberry, likes them too. It's a race to see who gets them first - him or me.

We are longing for rain but the weather is remarkably autumn-like - warm and dry as a bone. If it rains, I hope to see Black Trumpets, Hedgehogs and Winter Chanterelles. May it rain soon!

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