Sightings

•

This Buck somehow managed to snag a string of decorative bells. He is quite entangled but seems to be doing okay. He's able to eat, but he isn't able to walk quietly because the bells jingle as he moves. Mark Haveman was the first to let me know about him - the Buck in in the area of Fish Rock Road in Gualala. Bill Bennett then sent me these photos of the poor guy.

It would be nice if we could get them off of him, but that's easier said than done. This Buck might be stuck with the bells until he loses his antlers early next year. Or, hopefully, he will figure a way to remove them.

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

The heavy fog of the past couple of days is gone. It's sunny and breezy today.

•

Rick and Teresa Denniston have a beautiful home overlooking the Gualala River and the Pacific Ocean. They named it Seredipidity and it's available to rent. When they come up to stay for a while, intending to work on the house, the great wildlife sightings distract them! First, they saw several Gray Whales. Here's a photo showing the back of one of them.

Then they were distracted by this lovely Doe and a young Buck looking up at them.

Finally, they were charmed by the sight of a family of California Quail, including four of the chicks.

Hard to get work done, that is for sure!

Thanks to Teresa and Rick for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see Serendipity, here is the link: https://rentals.coastinghome.com/rns/vacation-rental/gualala/ca/serendipit

Our heat wave is over, thank goodness. The fog returned and burned off at the coast by noon. ahhh....

•

Ron Bolander had this Bald Eagle land in a tree where he lives, north of Gualala.

I believe this is the female Bald Eagle who has been spending a lot of time at the Gualala River with her mate. We are excited that Bald Eagles have returned to the Mendonoma coast after their long absence.

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

Another warm day today, but not as hot. Tomorrow and Sunday is one of Gualala's premier events, Art in the Redwoods at the Gualala Arts Center. You can learn more about it at this link: http://gualalaarts.org/2019/08/58th-annual-art-in-the-redwoods-festival/

•

We could use some fog as it has been HOT on the Mendonoma coast. A few weeks ago a rare late afternoon fogbow appeared. I'll let Mark Hancock tell the story.

“As I was leaving the Point Arena Light Station, I was treated to one of the most vivid and beautifully shaped fogbows I have ever seen.

"I think it appeared because the wispy fogbank was just barely above the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands field next to the Light Station with a brilliant blue sky above it, and the sun was low in the sky since it was around 6 p.m. I pointed it out to some folks who were parked in front of our entry, and they had been admiring it themselves!”

The vast majority of fogbows are seen in the morning, so it was nice to learn they can appear in the late afternoon.

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

•

Yes, it's sunny and toasty on the Mendonoma Coast today with not much wind. Sounds like a good day to head for the beach. Ruth Alexander was at Moat Creek on a sparkling day recently and photographed this Western Gull looking out at the Pacific Ocean.

Western Gulls are the only gull that nests on our coast. And they are year round residents.

There is a trail from Moat Creek to Bowling Ball Beach. You can find out more about it at the Mendocino Land Trust's site at this link: https://www.mendocinolandtrust.org/trails/southern-coastal-trails/moat-creek-to-schooner-gulch-trail/

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