Sightings

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Winter is a good time for spotting hawks. Where there are open meadows, you can often spot a hawk sitting on top of a telephone pole looking for its next meal.

Paul Brewer spotted this Hawk, just as it took flight. It is a immature Red-shouldered Hawk, a hawk of the forest.

Immature Red-shouldered Hawk by Paul Brewer

Red-shouldered Hawks are found where there are tall trees and water, and they are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. Their call is a plaintive whistle. If you'd like to hear it, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

I thank Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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All the rain we've had has brought seasonal waterfalls to life. Allen Vinson recently photographed the waterfall at Stengel Beach.

Beautiful waterfall at Stengel Beach by Allen Vinson

Isn't it beautiful?  Stengel Beach is a public access point on The Sea Ranch. There is a very short trail out to the bluffs to see this waterfall.

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

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Before the storm arrived, there were rainbows this morning. Now that's a nice way to start the day!

Gary Levenson-Palmer recently photographed several beautiful rainbows. The first shows a rare fire rainbow, a horizontal rainbow.

Fire Rainbow by Gary Levenson-Palmer Rainbow by Gary Levenson-Palmer Rainbow over the ocean by Gary Levenson-Palmer

Rainbow days are one of the privileges of being on the Mendonoma Coast.

I thank Gary for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

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What a season we are having this year with wild mushrooms. Hedgehog mushrooms, one of my favorites, are  up in abundance, as are Winter Chanterelles and Black Trumpets. One of the most distinctive mushrooms is the Fly Amanita. Jim  Garlock recently photographed one.

Fly Amanita by Jim Garlock

Rick and I went on a mushroom hunt last week, looking for edibles, of course. We found a treasure trove of Matsutakes! Also found was a Shaggy Man, Candy Caps, Black Trumpets and Hedgehogs.

Basket of edible mushrooms by Jeanne Jackson

Finding edible mushrooms in the forest is like finding treasure - a gift from Mother Nature.

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

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Rick and I looked out and saw this big, bad thunderstorm directly west of our house in Anchor Bay.

Thunderstorm by Jeanne Jackson

We could hear thunder rumbling through the air. This thunderstorm came straight at us and deluged us with rain - over a half inch in five minutes! And then it hailed, big time. The first photo shows our pond. It really looks like it snowed.

Hail by our pond (Large) Hail in front (Large) Hail on our deck (Large)

We received over seven inches of much-needed rain from this big storm. More storms are on the horizon and one is hitting this afternoon. Bye, bye Mr. Drought! Don't let the door hit you on the way out.