Sightings

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Pat Maxwell found this Anise Swallowtail Butterfly on her appropriately-named Butterfly bush.

And Catherine Miller spotted this Pale Swallowtail Butterfly feeding on the geraniums in her garden recently.

The other swallowtail we commonly see here on the coast is a Western Tiger Swallowtail. This photo was taken some years ago by Peter Baye. This lovely butterfly is feeding on one of my favorite native wildflowers, the Leopard Lily.

 

Thanks to Pat, Catherine and Peter for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Today is simply one of the most beautiful days on the Mendonoma Coast - sunny, bright with a gently breeze.

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Fawns begin arriving around Mother's Day and continue into early summer. Pam Powell photographed a young one who seems curious about Pam.

Gaily Jackson also photographed a Fawn, this one at Gualala Point Regional Park.

The Fawn has natural camouflage, blending in well with the grasses.

Thanks to Pam and Gaily for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see more of Gaily's nature photography, here is the link to her website: http://gailyimages.com/

We are having a sunny, breezy summer day.

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Carl Shapiro photographed a Kelp Crab and mentioned that the crab was scary-looking. So, does he/she scare you?

Perhaps if you had bare feet  you might feel a little trepidation! This small crab is found living in kelp beds. Carl entitled this photo "High Four."

On a trip to Gualala this morning, Rick and I noticed more kelp appearing on the surface of the ocean. First impressions are that the kelp is doing better this year. We'll see, though, as the months progress.

Thanks to Carl for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

It is WINDY here today - there is no reason to brush or comb your hair if going outside. The wind will have its way!

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Richard Custer has been watching a Raven nest near the Point Arena Lighthouse. Two chicks hatched, and the parents are busy feeding them. Look how hungry these chicks are, and notice the wing feathers coming in.

Here's a beautiful photo of one of the Common Ravens at the Lighthouse, taken by Michael Deligio a few years ago. It kind of looks like a painting!

Thanks to Richard and Michael for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Wet fog this morning has led to brilliant sunshine this afternoon.

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Bill Brown was at Cooks Beach early one morning during a low tide.  How beautiful to see the offshore rocks reflected in the ocean.

Bill also saw many healthy Sea Stars, Ochre Stars, at Cooks Beach.

Cooks Beach is a lovely pocket beach, perfect for forgetting about a certain virus, or anything else that might be bothering you!

RCLC is our local land conservancy. Along with Cooks Beach, they have brought us the Gualala Bluff Trail and Hearn Gulch. To great excitement, they are also bringing us Mill Bend, which includes the mouth and part of the stem of the Gualala River. RCLC continues to fund raise for this once-in-a lifetime acquisition. You can find out much more at this link: https://www.rclc.org/ 

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

We had a very foggy morning, and it continues to be socked in right along the coastline. The sun is shining a little away from the bluffs, however. It's a mild summer day.