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Pretty as a picture, this Great Blue Heron stands amongst late blooming wildflowers on a bluff on the Mendonoma Coast. Sterling Lanier got this beautiful photo.

Great Blue Herons are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast.

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

It was cooler today and the fog has rolled in tonight.

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Last week skies were clear for watching the Perseid Meteor Shower. Paul Kozal outdid himself with this photo of the Milky Way and a streaking meteor on the right.

Paul took this photo at Cooks Beach, a lovely pocket beach just north of Gualala. To learn more about this beach, here is the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy's website: https://rclc.org/cooks-beach/

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his gallery, https://www.paulkozal.com/Visit-the-Gallery

Today has been warm with no wind, a beautiful day on the Mendonoma Coast!

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It was a beautiful sight to behold, the big Super Blue Moon rising behind some trees. Rozanne Rapozo went out around 9 p.m. and got this dramatic photo.

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

We did get rain Friday night - 0.46 inches! A nice soaking. Today, Sunday, it's clear and warm, temps in the high 70's this afternoon.

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Mike recently photographed a Savannah Sparrow and I love his photo of the sparrow with its head down in a flower, looking as if he/she was taking a sniff. Of course it’s more likely there was an insect or spider in there, but still, it’s fun to imagine.

This distinctive sparrow with a short tail, small head, and telltale yellow streak above the eyes. Savannah Sparrows are one of the most numerous songbirds in North America. In the spring, when the male is trying to attract a female, he sings a three-part song. You can hear it at this link at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/sounds

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

No fog today, just blue skies! There could be some rain coming in Friday - bring it, Mother Nature!

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I get to look all the entries to Gualala Arts' Art in the Redwoods and endeavor to pick the Best Mendonoma Sighting. It's HARD because there are so many options. But Paul Brewer's photo of a Great Egret stood out. He titled his photo "Egret Hideaway." I love the lichen hanging from the tree branches, and the beautiful Great Egret.

This bird is in breeding plumage - the neon green patch on the skin and the long plumes growing from the back tell the story.

Paul sent a bonus photo, entitled "Egret Sanctuary."

The framed photograph now showing at the Gualala Arts Center is quite large. There is a smaller version displayed at The Dolphin Gallery and Store, GAC's store in Gualala. Here is a link to The Dolphin: https://gualalaarts.org/dolphin-gallery/

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. And congratulations to Paul on winning the Best Mendonoma Sightings Award 2024!

Sunny and breezy, and warm away from the ocean!