Sightings

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Today in America we celebrate Independence Day. As the Bald Eagle was chosen in 1782 as the emblem of our country, I thought the 4th of July would be a perfect time to show you a few photos of mature Bald Eagles. Here is a recent photo taken by Kris Rose near Stewart's Point.

Bald Eagle near Stewart's Point by Kris Rose

And here is a photo taken last year of a Bald Eagle that perched on a snag in the Gualala River. It was taken by Phil Wendt.

A Bald Eagle on a snag in the Gualala River by Phil Wendt

Here is what www.baldeagle info.com says about why the Bald Eagle was picked to represent America:

"The bald eagle was chosen June 20, 1782 as the emblem of the United States of American, because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks, and also because it was then believed to exist only on this continent.  The eagle represents freedom. Living as he does on the tops of lofty mountains, amid the solitary grandeur of Nature, he has unlimited freedom, whether with strong pinions he sweeps into the valleys below, or upward into the boundless spaces beyond."

Happy 4th of July! Thanks to Kris and Phil for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see more of Phil's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.philwendt.org/

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Allen Vinson trained his camera at tide pools during a recent low tide. He found an Ochre Sea Star.

Ochre Sea Star by Allen Vinson

And he saw Sea Urchins, the more commonly seen purple ones, and a rarer red one. There is also a Sea Anemone here too.

Rare Red Sea Urchin with Purple Sea Urchins and an Anemone by Allen Vinson

The Independent Coast Observer publishes the tide tables in its weekly newspaper. Check the tide tables and plan your adventure to coincide with a minus tide or very low tide.

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

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As it usually does, the high inland temperatures coaxed the fog back to the coast. Today it is fifteen degrees cooler at our house than yesterday. Hello fog, my old friend!

Peter Cracknell took a beautiful photo of fog on the coast from Highway One. A bicyclist is taking a break.

Fog on the Mendonoma Coast by Peter Cracknell

Here's a recent photo I took at Gualala Point Regional Park. A finger of fog reaches for the town of Gualala.

Finger of fog reaches out to Gualala by Jeanne Jackson

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

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There was a huge fog bank and monsoonal clouds overhead. It made for a spectacular sunset. Paul Kozal took this panoramic photo of the event.

Panorama of Saturday night's dramatic sunset by Paul Kozal

Jon Loveless caught some of the beauty too, a little later in the sunset.

Saturday night's spectacular sunset by Jon Loveless

Today is very warm on the coast. The cooling fog has pulled way back. Those who love warm weather, and I'm not among them, are very happy today!

Thanks to Paul and Jon for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.paulkozal.com/ and the website for his gallery in Gualala is: http://studio391.net/

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Jan de Vries spotted a Gray Fox on the move.

Gray Fox on the move by Jan de Vries

Then the fox stopped to scratch an itch.

Gray Fox has an itch by Jan de Vries

Here's a close-up Jan took a while back - a beautiful Gray Fox.

Gray Fox by Jan de Vries

Gray Foxes are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. Kits have been born recently and the parents are raising them together.

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