Sightings

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After weeks of dry weather, the Mendonoma Coast is being hit by a big storm. And there are two more lined up - another for Friday and one for Sunday night. Our seasonal creeks had gone dry in places during the long dry spell. I know the creek that runs through our property in Anchor Bay, Quinliven Creek, will soon come to life to delight us anew.

In the meantime, here is a photo I took five days ago of the sun setting into a sea of fog. Beautiful, don't you agree?

Here is a link to a photo I took last March of Quinliven Creek after a major storm: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/03/15/huge-storm-is-hitting-the-mendonoma-coast/

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A Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris, was found resting on the sand at Cook's Beach last week. You can tell by its proboscis this Elephant Seal is a male and it tell us he is at least three years old.

Photographer Tom Eckles captured a wonderful photo of him. Tom wrote, "It blinked, open its huge mouth, exhaled with snoring gusto, stretched a flipper, then settled back to sleep.  And was gone the next morning, off into the glorious ocean, but my memory of this grand creature I will have for always."

  I believe this same fellow then swam the short distance to Anchor Bay Beach, where he stayed for several days, delighting everyone who saw him.
  If you'd like to see some of Tom's work, here is the link to his web site: http://www.tomeckles.com/ I thank Tom for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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A group of Shrimp Russulas, Russula xeramplina, has bloomed under a Shore Pine tree on our property. I finally learned the identification of these edible mushrooms after a mushroom forage with David Arora a month or so ago. First, it is a substantial mushroom, not flimsy. The stem is rosy though you will have to look closely at my photo to see the blush. When you scratch the stem it should turn yellow. To further make sure you have the edible Russula, bite off a small piece of the cap, chew and then spit out. If you taste pepper you have the wrong one.

 These two 'shrooms are growing next to a large rock at our home in Anchor Bay.

It's been cold and dry here on the Mendonoma Coast. But these Shrimp Russulas didn't seem to mind! To see several other photos of this mushroom, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/11/24/shrimp-russula-has-appeared-on-the-edge-of-our-forest-in-anchor-bay/

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David Wayne Floyd captured a beautiful wave approaching Anchor Bay Beach in Mendocino County. Storms to our north are generating big waves. Our weather is soon to change as those storms begin hitting the Mendonoma Coast by Wednesday morning. Today we bask in the sun but we look forward to some nice big storms real soon.

Thanks to David for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
To see David's beautiful sunset pictures at Anchor Bay Beach, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/12/18/a-great-place-to-watch-the-sunset-is-anchor-bay-beach/
and to learn more about Anchor Bay Beach, here is their web site: http://www.abcamp.com/
And before the weather closes down our view of the ocean, I want to tell you that Gray Whales have been seen most days migrating south. What a string of calm, clear weather days we've had to observe the great migration!

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Sometimes Mother Nature like to play tricks. Mirka Knaster found this Fly Amanita, Amanita muscaria, with another one growing out its top. It looks like a wild mushroom flying saucer!

Thanks to Mirka for allowing me to share her photo with you here.