Sightings

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It was a stormy day when Eric Zetterholm discovered the mated pair of Bald Eagles back in residence at the Gualala River. Here's Eric's story.

Eric wrote, “Yesterday, Sunday the 5th, I spotted a Bald Eagle on the river at my lunch hour around noon. I slipped into the Mill Bend parking area and walked down river to get some pictures. The Eagle was set on snag in the river as some fog and light rain started to move in. After just a few minutes the Eagle was subjected to the attention of a Peregrine Falcon who swooped down through the mist.

“The Eagle took off in pursuit and was joined by its mate who came from somewhere on the river side. The Bald Eagles chased the Falcon some and then they landed on the riverbank. The Peregrine made a few more passes but the Eagles were able to make it known that they intended to stay. The Eagles moved then to the trees above the Mill Bend as I headed back to the car to return to work. There seems to be something about rain that brings the eagles back to our Gualala River. I was very happy to see the pair here again.”

Here's a photo of one of the Bald Eagles taken on a sunny day by Eric.

And on page one of the ICO Community News this week is a beautiful photo of the Bald Eagle and the waning moon. Way to go, Eric!

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

Lots of overnight and early morning rain today. More than 1.40 inches! Maybe this storm will bring our seasonal creeks to life. The forecast after today is clear through Thanksgiving. This coming week could be an exceptional wild mushroom week. Hooray!

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Suzy and Maggie Rudy had a good day hunting the choice, edible King Boletes. They lined them up in a row - all fourteen of them - and Maggie took this photo.

King Boletes are also called Porcini. Delicious!

Remember, when picking wild mushrooms, to gather them in a open-weave basket, not a plastic bag. This way you will be helping disseminate the spores of the mushrooms.

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

It's been mild today with no wind, temps in the 60s. Clouds are pouring in and rain is predicted tomorrow, Friday. I've recorded 4.05 inches of rain so far this season.

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Gail Jackson photographed what we think is a young Coyote. See if you can spot him or her in Gail's photo.

I wonder how Gail knew a Coyote was in the brush! Here's a close-up of the Coyote.

Thanks to Gail for allowing me to share her photos with you here. To see much more of Gail's nature photography, here is the link to her website: https://gailyimages.com/

It's stormy on the Mendonoma Coast today! I bet the mushrooms are loving the rain.

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We've been seeing lots of evidence of a Black Bear, especially at The Sea Ranch. Joe Dobrenski's camera caught the big bear. Here are two stills from the video that Joe's son provided.

And here is one of the videos.

 

Amy Ruegg came across Black Bear scat the same week of Joe's sighting. It's studded with huckleberries.

And several weeks ago Amy came across this snag where a Black Bear was digging for insects, possibly termites.

Yep, Black Bears are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast! Thanks to Joe and Amy for allowing me to share their photos and the video here with you.

It's a magnificent day here today - sunny, warm with little or no breeze.

 

 

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Paul Brewer always takes his camera with him when he travels coastal roads, thank goodness. This day he headed north and found a Red-shouldered Hawk on Lighthouse Road, north of Point Arena. The meadows there attract hunting hawks.

Paul pointed out the hawk has a band on its right leg. Wish we could see numbers but no such luck.

I love the call of these forest hawks. You can hear it at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: https://paulbrewer.smugmug.com/

It started off cool and sunny but some clouds began streaming in this afternoon. That makes for a beautiful sky!