Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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It's pretty wonderful to share the Mendonoma Coast with Bobcats. Mother Nature's rodent hunters, they can be seen hunting gophers and other rodents in meadows. One has been spotted in the Iversen Lane area, north of Gualala. Gary Humfeld recently spotted it and captured several photographs. One is posted on the Independent Coast Observer's web site under "On-line features, Mendonoma Sightings" at this link: www.mendonoma.com. The other photo I am happy to share with you here.

You can see the Bobcat's unique tufted ears. Thanks to Gary for allowing me to share his photo with  you here.

To see a dramatic photo of a Bobcat caught in a mid-air leap, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/06/09/bobcat-caught-in-mid-air-by-drew-fagan-in-gualala/

The fog rolled in overnight, cooling us off. With the low tides and calm ocean this morning, abalone divers descended upon the Coast in great numbers. Vehicles were parked at many key access points up an down the Coast. Hope they had a good dive!

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Just in time for Mother's Day, the first Fawns have appeared on the Mendonoma Coast. Robert and Nancy Scarola had a Doe give birth in a wooded area near their home last year. So this year they were watching and waiting.  Robert estimates this fawn is two days old and he or she has a twin brother or sister. What fun the Scarolas will have watching this little family.

This precious Fawn is a reason to drive slowly on the Coast. If you see a Doe cross the highway, wait a moment to see if a fawn or two - or even three - might be following behind.

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A splash of pink caught my eye as Rick and I drove down Highway One along Salt Point State Park. It's always exciting to see the first Wild Rhododendrons begin to bloom. Pacific Coast Rhododendron, Rhododendron macrophyllum, is their proper name. We have some bushes on our property in Anchor Bay and consider ourselves fortunate.

Wild Rhodies are found from British Columbia down to Monterey County in California. They are the state flower of Washington State. May is when they bloom so they are right on time this year.

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The full moon of May 5/May6 was the closest to the earth it will be in 2012. This is called perigee, a once a year cosmic event. I arose before the dawn on Sunday to take a few photos of the Supermoon. I was hoping to get a photo of it sinking into the horizon but there were clouds that obscured that view. But what I saw was lovely nonetheless.

 A view of the Supermoon through Bishop Pines Trees off of front deck

The weather has turned warm on the beautiful Mendonoma Coast. As I sat outside on our deck in Anchor Bay, watching the moon set, I heard the first calls of a Swainson's Thrush. The beauty of its seemingly ever-ascending trills was in counterpoint to the murmurings of the Pacific Ocean. The occasional bark of a Sea Lion from Fish Rocks added to the moment. I was happy the Supermoon got me out of bed and into the softness of the dawn.