Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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Stream Orchids, Epipactis gigantea, have begun blooming on a rock ledge seep on the Wheatfield fork of the Gualala River. Peter Baye photographed one for us to see their delicate beauty.

Peter also found an uncommon sighting in our area - Wild Licorice, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, blooming in a sunny spot, also along the Wheatfield Fork.

Native People used this plant's root as a food source and for its medicinal qualities.


Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see more photography and learn about the Gualala River, here's the web site to Friends of the Gualala River: http://gualalariver.org/

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We knew it was coming but the reality of it is something else. A disaster thousands of miles away swept multitudes of items into the ocean last March. The Japan Current, also called Kuroshio Current, is bringing evidence of this disaster to the Mendocino Coast.

Don Phillips walks at Manchester State Beach nearly every day. He collects debris swept up on the beach as his community service. But last Sunday the amount of debris on the beach increased dramatically. Yesterday and today he hauled out enough debris to fill his car.

Yes, the tsunami debris has reached the Coast. Now the question is how do we dispose of this? Plastic can be recycled but the styrofoam is problem to be solved.

NOAA has a website to track the tsunami debris. It is: http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html

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It's been a while since I shared a sunset photo with you. Allen Vinson recently captured a lovely one, seen from a bluff on The Sea Ranch.

Wouldn't you like to sit on that log and enjoy the Pacific Ocean? The weather is wonderful and the Mendonoma Coast beckons.

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Ospreys choose to nest on the Mendonoma Coast, a fact we are very happy about. Ospreys are fishing to feed their new babies in nests. Recently Jan de Vries had a chance to photograph one close up.


This Osprey appears to be glaring at Jan.

 And below you can see the back of the Osprey.



Thanks to Jan for allowing me to share his photos with you here. 


To see Steve Wilcox's photo of an Osprey with a fish in its talons, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/04/23/ospreys-are-busy-fishing-as-photographed-by-steve-wilcox/

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You have to look closely at Adrian's photo. The Gray Whale's back looks like a small rock out in the Pacific Ocean.

As you can see from Adrian's photograph, the grasses are lush now, with plenty of feed for our wildlife.

And here's a closer look at two Gray Whales seen off of The Sea Ranch several weeks ago and photographed by John Batchelder.

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