Even though it's winter, we've been hearing birdsong on the Mendonoma Coast. Craig Tooley photographed this White-crowned Sparrow and is kindly allowing me to share his photo with you here. This Sparrow looks like he's quite a singer!
To see more of Craig's wonderful nature photos, here's the link to his web site: http://ruffimage.com/
And to hear the sound of this bird, here the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/white-crowned_sparrow/sounds/ac
Cook's Beach is found north of Gualala. Drive up Highway One until you reach mile marker 3.14, then turn left at Route 526, which is the old Coast Highway. Just to your right is the entrance path to Cook's Beach. The trail is called Bonham Trail in honor of the Bonham family's easements, which made this access possible.
Below is a view to the south from the overlook on top of the bluff.
And here is a view to the north from the overlook. Since this is a pocket beach it is protected from wind.
It's a kid friendly beach, as well as dog friendly. And it's a perfect place to watch the sunset.
Always a welcome sight, Rick and I spotted the first California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica, blooming along the beautiful Gualala Bluff Trail. It is, of course, the official California state flower. Its petals close at night or in cold and cloudy weather.
And, yes, it has medicinal qualities, which Native Americans understood. It is said to reduce anxiety, stop muscle spasm and relieve pain.
As for me, I just enjoy their sunny faces when I encounter them on the Mendonoma Coast.
Even inside my home in Anchor Bay, one-half mile away, I can hear the roar of the Pacific Ocean. Huge swells are hitting the Mendonoma Coast and the crashing waves create a salty mist that drifts across Highway One. The swells are also creating some great surfing conditions.
Yesterday morning I photographed a nearly full moon in the western sky at sunrise. You can see the swells, one after the other. One friend described this as the ocean looking like corduroy.
As Craig Tooley likes to say, the edges of the day are a great time for photography. Below is the setting sun shining on the ocean. It's a golden staircase to the unknown.
And what it looked like last night as the sun set into clouds. Beautiful, don't you think? No sunset is alike!
A lone Gray Whale was headed north when Allen Vinson photographed him recently. I'm assuming it's a male because he was traveling alone. You can see the whale was quite close to shore.
And here's what we often see, the back of the whale slicing through the water with the spout trailing off behind.
To see a photo of the distinctive tail of a Gray Whale, here's a link to Rozann Grunig's photo: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/11/26/thanksgiving-day-brought-sightings-of-gray-whales/
Thanks to Allen for allowing me to share his photos with you here.