Sightings

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The Salal Trail is rather hard to find. The trailhead is in Gualala Point Regional Park. After you pass the pay station, turn into the parking area on the left and park in the right side. To your left you will see the beginning of the trail.

Beginning of Salal Trail by Jeanne Jackson (Medium)

You amble down a path between Highway One and the golf course. The trail then heads west. Rick and I, along with friends C'Anna and David Bergman-Hill and our new rescue golden retriever, Sunny, recently enjoyed the trail.

We found summer wildflowers in bloom. Here David has photographed C'Anna and me finding Wight's Paintbrush.

C'Anna Bergman-Hill and Jeanne Jackson find Wight's Paintbrush by David Bergman-Hill

Here's a close-up of this native wildflower, photo by Craig Tooley.

Wight's Paintbrush by Craig Tooley

We came to the waterfall and even in the drought there is a slight trickle. When the winter rains come, the waterfall is glorious. Here's are two photos I took a few years ago. It's really a magical place.

View of waterfall on Salal Trail by Jeanne Jackson (Medium) Waterfall on the Salal Trail by Jeanne Jackson (Medium)

Finally, at the end of the trail, you come to a small beach, which is where Rick and Sunny are. This photo was taken by C'Anna.

Rick and Sunny at the end of the Salal Trail by C'Anna Bergman-Hill

We feel very fortunate Salal Trail is a public access trail. There is no other quite like it!
Thanks to C'Anna, David, and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com.

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It's not easy photographing CA Quail chicks, as they always seem to be in motion. Two chicks recently came to a water dish to take a few sips, and Clay Yale had his camera at the ready.

Two California Quail chicks by Clay Yale

Here is a photo of the beautiful male, taken by Tom Eckles. The male is always on guard duty while the female tends to her covey of little ones.

Male Quail by Tom Eckles

My all-time favorite photo of CA Quail was taken by Siegfried Matull

14 Baby Quail by Siegfried Matull

14 chicks are on the bench, with Dad acting as a sentry. It looks like Mom is on the left.

Thanks to Clay, Tom, and Siegfried for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Tom's photography, here is his website: www.tomeckles.com

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Peter Baye noticed a group of Steelhead in the Gualala River. One of them was nearly white - a leucistic Steelhead.

Leucistic steelhead with normal colored Steelhead by Peter Baye

That's not something you see every day! Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Peter Baye recently photographed Leopard Lilies, Lilium pardalinum, a native wildflower.

Leopard Lilies by Peter BayeThis wildflower is usually found near water. It is also called Panther Lily or Tiger Lily. Whatever you call it, it is beautiful to to see in bloom.

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

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Jeff and Pearl Watts put up a beautiful bird house, and they were rewarded when a pair of Violet-green swallows built a nest inside. Jeff photographed two chicks peeking out through the opening.

Violet-green swallows peers out of the birdhouse by Jeff Watts

Here's a photo Linda Bostwick took of a male, with a feather in its beak.

Male Violet-green Swallow with a feather by Linda Bostwick

Thanks to Jeff and Linda for allowing me to share their photos with you here.