Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Beth and Jeff Petit were down near the pier in Point Arena in the late afternoon on Feb. 10th. After a long absence Point Arena's most famous visitor soared in from the southwest and landed in his favorite spot on the north side of the pier. Beth got this photo of Al, the Laysan Albatross, coming in for his most welcomed return.

Beth said everybody down at the pier cheered Al's return. Below is a close-up photo, which was taken by John Batchelder. Al...or Alice, we don't really know...is one handsome bird.

Thanks to Beth and John for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Today we celebrate Valentine's Day and the Mendonoma Coast couldn't be any lovelier. It's warm and there is no wind. In between storms in the winter is one of the best times to be here.

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We haven't seen any Gray Whales for the past several weeks. We hope to see the first mothers with calves soon. Rick Denniston photographed one spyhopping just off his vacation home, Serendipity, in Gualala.

Magnificent! Thanks to Rick for allowing me to share his photo with you here. Serendipity is available for vacation rental. I can attest to the wonderful view it has. Here's the link to learn more: http://www.serendipityview.com/

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This wildflower has a horrible name - Fetid Adder's Tongue. It refers to its ill-smelling flower. Scoliopus bigelovii is the Latin name for this orchid-like flower. It blooms in the winter and few are fortunate enough to see it. Craig Tooley recently photographed one. You can see the first bloom is over but the second one is up. The leaves will grow in the weeks and months to come, becoming nearly a foot long is some cases.

I love this first wildflower of the year. It's not more than two inches tall, if that. If you find the distinctive leaves but see no flowers, note the spot. Then next winter you can find the flower in January or February.

I noticed the first Trilliums up, along with Milkmaids - they are early signs that spring is not too far away.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's Coast photography, here is the link: http://ruffimage.com/

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Thursday's sunset was beautiful with the leftover clouds from a storm. This photo was taken from our deck in Anchor Bay.

Earlier that day, Rick and I - with our golden retriever, Huckleberry - walked along the Gualala Bluff Trail. The river was closed to the ocean by the sandbar. You can see the river has turned "Steelhead" green. When the river opens Steelhead will enter the river. Catch and release fishing will then be the order of the day.

To see a photo of a Steelhead in the Gualala River, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/09/01/adult-steelhead-photographed-by-peter-baye-in-one-of-the-reaches-of-the-gualala-river/

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The largest Sea Star in the world is the Sunflower Seastar, Pycnopodia helianthoides. Travis Winters was visiting relatives on the Mendonoma Coast and took his camera along when he hiked the Stornetta Public Lands. There he found this Sea Star.

I count twenty-one limbs on this big Sea Star. They can have between 16 and 24 limbs and they grow over three feet across. They eat Sea Urchins, Clams, Snails and other invertebrates.

Thanks to Travis for sharing his photo with us here. To see other photos from the magnificent Stornetta Lands, here are a few links: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/06/15/a-hidden-waterfall-on-the-stornetta-public-lands-in-mendocino-county/  and http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/02/18/low-tide-at-the-stornetta-public-lands-in-point-arena-breathtaking/