Mark Simkins had a healthy-looking Bobcat visit his yard in Manchester. It settled down in the sun and lounged there for over ten minutes.
Thanks to Mark for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see an unusual photo of a Bobcat walking a labyrinth on the Gualala Ridge, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/04/21/bobcat-walking-a-labyrinth-an-amazing-sight-on-the-gualala-ridge/
The skies are sunny, a welcome sight after all the rain we've had on the Mendonoma Coast. Rain followed by sun is the equation for wild mushrooms.
This lovely forest of Shaggy Manes, Coprinus comatus, sprung up near our property. This is the perfect stage to pick these edible mushrooms for eating. But you must use them right away as they will disintegrate before your very eyes. These were growing under California Bay Laurel, with Coast Redwoods and Bishop Pines close by.
And the first Coccora appeared several days ago, Amanita calyptroderma. This edible mushroom has a poisonous look-alike so you must be very knowledgeable and experienced to tell them apart. They are a beautiful mushroom to observe. The main area of Coccoras on our property has not yet fruited. This was growing on a neighbor's land in the sun and under Bishop Pine Trees with a Redwood or two nearby.
The storms that hit Northern California brought high surf, enormous waves and swells. Robert Scarola went out just after the last storm and capture these images.
Looks like there's a Brown Pelican in the bottom right hand corner of Robert's photo.
Now we are in for a stretch of dry weather. Our seasonal creeks are running strong and full of beautiful cascades. Wild mushrooms are popping up seemingly everywhere. It's a wonderful time to be on the Mendonoma Coast.
Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Male California Sea Lions are migrating now. In recent months the males have been hanging around the females on Fish Rocks, which is just off Anchor Bay, and a few other locations. Now the males are leaving, some going only as far as The Sea Ranch. Craig Tooley photographed a magnificent male with a Common Raven looking over its shoulder.
Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's Coastal photography, here's the link: http://ruffimage.com/
Matsutakes, the prized wild mushroom that smells of cinnamon, are continuing to appear.
It's important to carefully dig up this mushroom to see the complete stem. It does have a very bad lookalike so only forage for this mushroom if you are very certain of your identification.
And here is one of my favorite edibles, a Queen Bolete, Boletus aereus.
Yet another storm is hitting the Mendonoma Coast. But this weekend is forecast to be sunny. We will be ready for some of that yellow stuff!