Sightings

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Here you will see Nick, Matt and Hunter Lum after a recent dive for red treasure. Matt is an avid diver. It appears his sons have taken after him in this regard.

Nick, Matt and Hunter Lum after a successful Abalone dive by Jack Likins (Large)

Jack Likins took this photo. He wrote, “My friend, Matt Lum, came from Santa Barbara with his family and a couple of friends and spent the week diving for abalone.”

Roger Rude expressed what it feels like to be in the ocean this past week. He wrote, “Returning to the sea today to refresh my soul in its salty embrace, to fly and soar above the sea floor, to know my place in the universe.”

The beautiful Pacific Ocean, it calls to us with its summertime murmuring. In constant motion, it is home to many wonders, some of which we know well and some yet to be discovered. It’s a place of mystery, a place of danger, and of wonder. We should strive to never take it for granted.

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

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Thom Matson has been enjoying two fawns near his home on The Sea Ranch. He recently photographed them, showing they have lost their spots.

Twin Fawns have lost their spots by Thom Matson

Lovely photo with the ocean in the background. These two fawns are living lightly on the land at Sea Ranch.

Young fawns are following their moms across Highway One. Just this morning a Doe and her fawn crossed right in front of us. It could pay dividends for you to slow down!

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

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Much of the Mendonoma Coast was covered in fog during the Perseids meteor showers. And there was a big full moon at the peak, a supermoon.  So the Perseids were pretty much a non-event for us this year as the light from the big moon made viewing them nearly impossible. Mark Simkins was able to photograph the supermoon from his place in Manchester, which miraculously had no fog that night.

Super moon over Manchester by Mark Simkins

This was on August 10th. The moon was the closest and largest of the year, just beautiful!

The fog has pulled back today. Looks like it will be a sunny weekend for the Coast.

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

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Art in the Redwoods, held the third weekend in August, is always a big event in Gualala. Rick and I have the honor - and the agony - of picking a piece of art that represents the beautiful Mendonoma Coast. This year we chose a dramatic photograph by Scott Chieffo of the arches seen just off the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. Scott titled it, "A Seal's eye view."

Seals Eye View by Scott Chieffo Best Mendonoma Sighting 2014

Jane Reichhold wrote a haiku ceremony for the dedication of these Lands. The last haiku read:

A stroke of the pen, A curve of the coast again, Sacred Land.

Scott's photo shows us the dramatic beauty of these Lands, forever preserved.

Congratulations to Scott for winning Best Mendonoma Sighting 2014. And thanks to him for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see more of Scott's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.schieffophotography.com/

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There is a flowering plant, a red hot poker plant, that attracts bees and hummingbirds. Allen has focused his camera on it and has been rewarded with some beautiful Anna's hummingbird photos.

Anna's Hummingbird by Allen Vinson Where should I begin - an Anna's Hummingbird by Allen Vinson An Anna's Hummingbird feeds by Allen Vinson

It must look like a smorgasbord to the hummer! Anna's Hummingbirds are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. In the winter the early blooming native manzanitas sustain these living jewels.

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