Sightings

•

Carol Bogovich was watching the Gray Whale southward migration on New Year's Day. Two whales came closer in and she was able to get these photos.

The heart-shaped blow of a Gray Whale by Carol Bogovich
The heart-shaped blow of a Gray Whale
Two Gray Whales by Carol Bogovich
Two Gray Whales spout.
The tail of a Gray Whale by Carol Bogovich
A Gray Whale's tail lifting out of the ocean.
Gray Whale tail by Carol Bogovich
And one last look before the tail disappears into the Pacific Ocean.

 

Gray Whales are being seen every day, weather-permitting. Today we had a nice, gentle storm move in, giving us a good 1/2 inch of rain. Of course that makes spotting Gray Whales impossible, at least from my vantage point.

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

•

Allen Vinson recently took this beautiful photo of sunbeams shining through the forest.

Sunbeams in the forest by Allen Vinson

The morning sun painted a pretty picture in late December in a forest on The Sea Ranch.

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

• 2 Comments

•

Margaret Lindgren, of Unbeaten Path Hiking Tours, regularly takes visitors to the Mendonoma Coast on a tour of the Point Arena/Stornetta Lands. Recently she took a group during a minus tide.

Minus tide at the Point Arena Stornetta Lands by Margaret Lindgren

The minus tide revealed this bridge. This is what Margaret wrote, “The minus tide has been incredible these past few days. Yesterday was a minus .6 tide and I was astonished at the exposure of the land bridge to Sea Lion Rock during our tour of the Stornetta Lands. Unbelievable! I rarely see it like this.”

Though tempting to walk over to Sea Lion Rock, it is illegal, as it is protected under the auspices of the California Coastal National Monument. The PA/Stornetta Lands are also part of the Monument, the first land-based  portion to be so designated.

For the second time Margaret's clients were Diane Keaton, Sarah Paulson and friends. Here Margaret poses with her guests. Margaret is the one with red hair.

Sarah Paulson, Diane Keaton, Margaret Lindgren and friends, photo courtesy of Margaret Lindgren

Looks like everyone approved of the fun hike at the beautiful Stornetta Lands.

Thanks to Margaret for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To learn more about her fabulous tours, here is her website: http://www.unbeatenpathtours.com/

• 2 Comments

•

Over a year ago this Buck was spotted on The Sea Ranch missing the lower part of its back right leg. We don't know how this Buck was injured but nature has a way of cauterizing a wound like this. The Buck was named Tripod by Adrian Bennett.  George Marshall recently photographed this Buck, so he is managing to survive despite his disability.

Tripod, the three-legged Buck by George Marshall

This Buck is surviving, and even thriving, living lightly on the land at TSR.

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

•

A rare visitor to the Mendonoma Coast, a Pacific Golden-Plover was spotted by Richard Kuehn.

Pacific Golden-Plover by Richard Kuehn

This bird gets its name from the gold color etched on its wings.

To hear the call of this shorebird, here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Golden-Plover/sounds

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