Sightings

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This is the season for Dungeness Crab, Metacarcinus magister. The season from Point Arena north was delayed until recently to allow the crabs to grow to the proper size. Local boats go out from the Point Arena Pier and larger boats come up from Bodega Bay. Beth Petit recently photographed a large load of crab coming into the pier.

 And Allen Vinson photographed several crab boats plying the waters off the Mendonoma Coast.

Dungeness Crab is found off the West Coast of Northern America and is considered a delicious delicacy. I can tell you it's one of my favorite seafood. Crab cakes, anyone?
Thanks to Beth and Allen for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Quinliven Creek runs through our property in Anchor Bay. It's a seasonal creek, with ponds that last year round. It is always a happy occurrence when it comes to life. With all the rain we've had recently it is running fast and strong. Here are a few pictures of this lovely creek.

 Each cascade has a different musical tone, which I enjoy listening to. Yes, the creek is singing!

 And below is Huckleberry, our golden retriever. Rick is telling him not to go in that pond as it's so cold. Last night I didn't have my camera as it was raining hard. I put Huckleberry's raincoat on, which he doesn't really enjoy but being an agreeable golden he puts up with it. We hiked down into the forest to look at the creek. When we weren't looking Huck went into this pond - with his raincoat on! Best laid plans and all that...

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Adrian Bennett noticed a Great Blue Heron striding through her Sea Ranch yard.

 The Heron continues its walk, passing by some colorful, decorative "eggs."

 All of a sudden the Heron stops and whips its head around as it notices the "eggs."

 I can just imagine what this Great Blue Heron is thinking - "What the heck...?"

Thanks to Adrian Bennett for allowing me to share her photos with you here. They made me smile and I hope they do the same for you.

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Our seasonal creeks are running strong and fast after the second storm dumped three inches of rain yesterday. With the showers this morning came a beautiful rainbow.

We had a very high tide this morning and the waves are huge! Even a half mile away and inside my house I can hear the ocean's roar.

My best to you on this rainbow day! Jeanne Jackson, Gualala

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We had nearly 3 and 3/4 inches of rain yesterday and that was enough to finally open the Gualala River. The river has been closed to the ocean all summer, fall and the first month of winter by a massive sandbar. This is the latest I know of for the river to open. A friend called - thank you, Bob! - and said the river was cresting the sandbar at 10:30 this morning. When Rick and I arrived at the Gualala Bluff Trail an hour or so later the river had opened. And what a sight it was!

 The picture below is our first look at the newly opened river. We entered the Gualala Bluff Trail by the Shoreline Restaurant and the Breakers Inn. Yes, it was raining hard and we got soaked!

 Halfway down the trail we got a better look at the opening, which is south of its usual opening.

We watched as large tree trunks were swept into the sea. The turbulence where the river hits the ocean was amazing to see and hear. Steelhead juveniles were making their first trip into the Pacific Ocean. They had been trapped in luxury in the Gualala River.

Until this morning this was a lagoon. Now it's an estuary. It was so thrilling to watch the river greet the sea.