Best of Show at the recent Gualala River Sightings event was given to Rick Denniston's Deer reflected in the Gualala River. You can see raindrops in the river too.
At the Gualala River Sightings event, Diane Hichwa won the Best Series award with her photos of a River Otter taking a Gull. Though it's not easy to see, it is nature in action.
The first photo Diane entitled "Help!" A River Otter came up underneath a flock of Gulls and nabbed this one.
Other Otters joined in to bring the Gull to shore, which shows they work cooperatively.
And below is the spot these River Otters use as their "dining table."
As part of Point Arena's annual Flower Power Festival and the Wind & Whale Celebration, giant kites filled the air courtesy of Berkeley Kite Wranglers. Margaret Lindgren photographed a few of them.
It was a weekend filled with fun. And there is usually plenty of wind out on the point where the Lighthouse sits so kite flying is a perfect activity. Margaret has more photos of the kites on her blog. You can see them at her website: www.unbeatenpath.weebly.com Thanks to Margaret for allowing me to share her fun photos with you here.
Rob Elder had made several tries to find the old-growth Redwood tree known as the McCabe Tree. On his third attempt his wife Jacquelynn Bass accompanied him. With her help he found the big tree. Jackie's photo was awarded Best alongside the river (macro). The McCabe tree is possibly the largest old-growth Redwood in Sonoma County. It measures 47 feet, eight inches in circumference. Amazing.
To be overlooking the mouth of the Gualala River when it opens for the first time in months in the fall is extremely lucky. To get a photograph is even better. Bob Rutemoeller won Best River mouth photo with this shot:
Thanks to Jackie and Bob for sharing their photos with us here.
Last week Friends of the Gualala River and I hosted Gualala River Sightings at the Gualala Arts Center. People were invited to send in their favorite photos of our favorite wild river and its environs. Over 120 photos were sent in. I'm happy to be able to share the winning photographs with you.
Best above the river was taken by Peggy Berryhill:
Best in the river was taken by Rozann Grunig- kayaking under a full moon.
Best alongside the river (micro) was taken by Bryant Hichwa - icy morning leaves:
I will share more of the award winning photographs with you tomorrow. Many thanks to the talented photographers here