Sightings

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Scott and Tree Mercer, of Mendonoma Whale and Seal, are presenting the 3rd annual Ocean Life Symposium. It begins on Monday, October 25 from 9 am to noon, and continues throughout the week.

You will undoubtedly learn more about Humpback Whales, as photographed here by Craig Tooley. Here is the link to learn about the many learned speakers of this informative event.

https://www.facebook.com/events/845494016135619/

To learn more about the Mercers and Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study, here is the link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Mendonoma-Whale-and-Seal-Study-1421926098039236

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

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A huge storm is slamming into Northern California today, Sunday. It was more than enough to fill the Gualala River to the brim and then for the river to breach the sandbar. Bob Rutemoeller braved the rain to get these photos late this morning.

You will see the river opened at the far southern point. Here are two more photos of the raging Gualala River, with downed trees being swept out to sea. Steelhead will also be swept out to sea to begin the next stage of their lives. In the days ahead, different Steelhead will be entering the river, to make their way upriver to spawn.

And this is just what you shouldn't do when the river is opening - walk on the sandbar.

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

A massive storm system arrived late yesterday. Early this morning I found 4.95 inches in our rain gauge. Since then another two+ inches has fallen and it's still pouring as I type this. So, seven inches and counting! Wow!

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I went to check on the Gualala River yesterday, Friday. We have had 6.8 inches of rain and I knew the river would be a big beneficiary of the wet stuff. I drove in to Gualala Point Regional Park and parked at the iconic bend in the river site. Here's what I saw.

It is already raining here on the Mendonoma Coast today. I believe the Gualala River could open with this big rainstorm. A large - maybe the largest ever - sandbar has the river "closed" to the Pacific Ocean. When the river opens to the ocean for the first time in many months, bursting through the sandbar, it can be a spectacular event. The best place to watch it is from the Gualala Bluff Trail. Be safe and stay off of the sandbar - we don't want to lose anybody!

The weather today is WET! I also checked Quinliven Creek yesterday, a seasonal creek that crosses our property. It was running in the upper reaches but not the lower part. I'm sure that's going to change today. To have this early rain is such a blessing. Thank you, Mother Nature.

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On and off storm systems have brought dramatic clouds to the Mendonoma Coast. Karen Wilder was out at the Point Arena Lighthouse bluffs and she captured this lovely sight.

 

Sunrises have been striking too. I photographed this one from my deck in Anchor Bay on Oct. 19. A vision of loveliness in pink!

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

Rain and more rain! The  temperature is quite mild and the rain continues to fall today. A big storm is due in Sunday, an atmospheric river of rain. Will it be enough to open the Gualala River? We'll be watching.

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Irene Leidner was walking at Gualala Point Regional Park when she saw something white ahead of her. She thought it might be a piece of trash. But when she got closer she found she had found the rare and endemic Fringed Corn Lily in bloom.

Irene said it was if the sun had come out!

It's interesting to see the leaves are mostly intact. Usually, by the time this plant flowers, the leaves have been riddled with holes made by munching insects.

Thanks to Irene for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

We had a vigorous storm yesterday! 1.6 inches in our rain gauge, and a total of 4.2 inches season to date. More rain is coming in tonight, and tomorrow is suppose to be very wet. What a blessing October rain is for the land, and the rivers and creeks.